Sex differences in the phenotypic characteristics of rat thymocytes
1995
Leposavic, G. (Immunology Research Center, Belgrade (Yugoslavia)) | Karapetrovic, B. | Budec, M. | Kosec, D.
The relative proportion of four main thymocyte subsets delineated by expression of CD4 and CD8 surface markers was studied in rats of both sexes. Athough the total yield of T cells extracted from thymuses did not differ between the sexes, in females was found a decreased percentage of double positive (DP) CD4+/CD8+ cells accompanied by a proportional increase in the percentage of single positive (SP) CD4+/CD8- cells. The results indicate that the balance of intrathymic cell maturation in females is shifted in favour of the helper / inducer subset. Moreover this shift in balance might be, at least partly, responsible for the phenomenon termed immunological sexual dimorphism.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]