The Influence of Bovine Thymic Extract on the Immune Response in Irradiated Wistar Rats

Immunomodulation is a phenomenon that is based on the influence of different endogenous and exogenous substances on the function of molecules and cells pertaining to the immune system. Some components extracted from the bovine thymus have immunomodulating features and can, both in animals and humans, by suppressing the immune response (humoral and/or cellular) bring about immunostimulation and increased organism resistance. In this paper the effects of bovine thymus extract (Thymex – L) on the parameters of humoral immune response (concentration of antibodies to tetanus toxoid – ATTx) and cellular immune response (interleukin 2 – IL-2, interferon – IFNand degree of cutaneus basophyl hypersensitivity – CBHR) in rats previously irradiated by X-rays at a dose of 4 or 6 Gy. The studied thymus extract had shown positive effects on IL-2 and IFNserum concentrations in irradiated rats. In the group of rats irradiated with 4 Gy the effects were evident on the 7th day of the trial. Rats irradiated with the higher dose (6 Gy) experienced the positive effects of thymus extract on the 21st day of the experiment. In the skin PHA hypersensitivity test, a positive effect was also recorded, being more pronounced in rats which received the lower irradiation dose. The tested thymus extract had shown a positive effect on the concentration of ATTx as early as the 14th day of the trial.