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Title: The influence of cyclosporin A on experimental autoimmune thyroid disease in the rat

Journal Article · · Life Sci.; (United States)

Female PVG/c rats, thymectomised on weaning and given 4 courses of whole body irradiation to a total dose of 1000 rads, developed experimental autoimmune thyroid disease (EAITD) as assessed by histological evidence of thyroiditis and circulating levels of antithyroglobulin antibodies. Hypothyroidism resulted. Induction of the disease was associated with a highly significant fall in T lymphocyte numbers. Eight weeks after their last dose of irradiation the animals commenced treatment with cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg rat/day, intragastrically) and were treated for varying time intervals thereafter. The reversal of the T lymphocyte helper: suppressor ratio on cyclosporin A therapy was associated with a significant improvement in the disease process. The alterations in the T cell subsets and in the disease lasted only as long as the drug was administered and thereafter reverted towards that seen in the control groups of animals receiving no treatment.

Research Organization:
Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales
OSTI ID:
6253340
Journal Information:
Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 32:1,2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English