Modification of murine lupus by sex hormones.

The effects of pre- and post-pubertal castration and testosterone administration on the course of murine lupus were studied in NZB/W F1 mice. Castration of males worsened their disease, whereas testosterone treatment of females ameliorated their autoimmune syndrome. Pre-pubertal treatment with testosterone caused a significant reduction in anti-DNA antibodies; in contrast, post-pubertal treatment had no effect, suggesting an age-dependent maturational event which is hormone-dependent. Finally, intact females were found to respond to testosterone treatment with prolonged survival, even when treatment was initiated after the onset of clinical disease.