The Enhancement of Tuberculous Infection in the Guinea Pig by Steroid Hormones

Abstract

The injn. of guinea pigs, normal [male][male] or [female][female], or castrates, with 0.05 mg. [alpha]-estradiol dipropionate 48 hrs. before inoculation with tuberculous sputa, and at 24-72 hr. intervals thereafter resulted in a decrease of resistance to exptl. tuberculosis. The mortality in the [alpha]-estradiol treated group at the end of 56 days was 91% as compared with 47% in the untreated group. Guinea pigs injected with a total of 80 mg. of testosterone dipropionate in 16 injns. at 24 hr. intervals preceding the inoculation with tuberculous sputa and at intervals after according to the appearance of the genitalia also showed a decreased resistance, 83% being dead by the 56th day. The severity of the tuberculosis in the treated groups as judged by the extent of the lesions was also greater in the treated groups.