Effectof Castration on Some Immunological Aspects in Male Albino Rat

Abstract

The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of surgical and chemical castration on some immunological aspects in adult male albino rats. A total number of forty adult male albino rats weighing 220±20 g and averaging 4 months old were used. Rats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1, intact control group; group 2, sham castrated group; group3, surgically castrated group and group 4, chemically castrated group. Relative thymus and spleen weight, peripheral total and differential leukocytic count and relative expression of TNFα gene were recorded at 2 and 4 weeks after castration. The obtained results revealed that surgical and chemical castration resulted in a significant increase in relative thymus and spleen weight. Peripheral total leukocytic count was significantly increased in surgically and chemically castrated groups as compared to intact control and sham groups. Differential leukocytic count revealed a significant increase in lymphocyte number and a significant decrease in neutrophil number in surgically and chemically castrated groups as compared to intact control and sham groups. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of TNFα gene expression in spleen revealed that surgical and chemical castration resulted in significant up regulation of TNFα gene expression. So, it concluded that surgical and chemical castration improved immunity and testosterone has an immunosuppressive effect in adult male albino rats.