Effect of sex hormones on inflammation.

Abstract

The present study was concerned with the effect of the hormones progestogen, oestrogen, and chorionic gonadotropin on the inflammatory reaction induced in the rat by 1 % croton oil. The granuloma pouch technique (Selye, 1952) was adopted as a standardized model of inflammatory reaction. A granuloma pouch developed within nine days following 2 injections of 1 ml 1 % croton oil solution. The thickness of the pouch wall was 710 μm.If 1 ml of any of the sex hormones used was deposited into the air sac immediately before the injection of the croton oil, the reaction was less extensive. The wall of the granuloma pouch in these cases was about 300 μm thinner than that produced by 1 % croton oil alone, If the connective tissue was perfused with any of the hormones 5 hours or 24 hours prior to the croton oil injection, the pouch wall thickness was even less.It is concluded that the sex hormones progestogen, oestrogen, and chorionic gonadotropin act as antiphtogistic substances on the acute inflammatory process induced by the croton oil.