Relationship between testicular activity and immune response in male rats

This study was carried out to study the relationship between testicularactivity and immune response in male rats.The study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine, Zagazig UniversityEighty male albino Rats were of two equal groups (A and B).Group A of40 immature rats and divided into two equal sub-groups (AI and A2).Group B of 40 mature rats and divided into two equal sub groups (Bland B2).Animals in the subgroup Al and Bl were castrated and the samples were takenafter 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after castration. Animals in the sub-groups A2 and B2were left as control and the samples were taken after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks.At each sampling time five animals were weighed and sacrificed from each sub-group. Blood samples were collected at the time of sacrifying in tubes ~ithoutanticoagulants for obtaining serum to be used for interleukin-2 levels and otherblood samples were collected in tubes with anticoagulant for determination ofphagocytic activity and total leukocytic count. Blood films were done fordetermination of differential leukocytic count. The histopathologicalexamination of thymus and spleen was performed after recording of weights.The obtained results revealed the following:l-Relative thymic and spleen weights:Of immature rats:The study revealed a significant increase in the relative thymic weight oforchidectomized rats (0.26 ± 0.02, 0.26 ± 0.01, 0.30 ± 0.01 and 0.55 ± 0.05 g