Effects of castration on IFN-γ and TNF-α expression in the adrenal gland of Angora goat

Abstract

In the adrenal gland, there is a mutual interaction between the cells in the cortex and medulla and the cells of the immune system. Sex hormones regulate immune cell functions as well as reproductive and metabolic processes throughout life. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a cytokine that regulates the maturation and differentiation of many cell types. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an important role in various physiological and pathophysiological processes and orchestrates cytokines. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of castration on the expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the adrenal gland of Angora goat. A total of 16 Angora goat kids were used as material for the study. Healthy animals were selected for the study by clinical examination. At an average age of 75 days, eight animals were randomly selected from the institute herd and castrated. 85 days after castration (after approximately 160 days old), eight control and eight castrated Angora goats were slaughtered and their adrenal glands were removed. In the analysis of each group, IFN-γ expression was found in the cytoplasm of cells in the adrenal cortex and medulla. The adrenal glands of the castrated group showed a decrease in IFN-γ expression in the zona fasciculata. A distinct brown staining was seen in the cytoplasm of TNF-α-positive responsive secretory cells. TNF-α expression was found to be increased in the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis of the adrenal gland in the castrated group. Accordingly, androgen hormone deficiency was able to increase TNF-α expression, whereas it did not significantly affect IFN-γ expression in the adrenal tissue of the Angora goat.