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Effect of Cortisol on Rauscher Virus Infection¹

Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

The effect of Cortisol therapy on the hematopoietic response to Rauscher virus infection was evaluated in nonsplenectomized and splenectomized BALB/c mice. In nonsplenectomized mice cortisol caused a significant reduction in leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, granulocytosis, and splenomegaly. Splenectomy modified the white blood cell response to infection in a manner similar to the effect of cortisol. There was a distinct difference between the effect of splenectomy or cortisol therapy on erythropoiesis and thrombopoiesis. Splenectomy increased the severity of the thrombocytopenia and anemia following infection with Rauscher virus, whereas cortisol therapy had no effect on the thrombocytopenia but did improve the anemia in nonsplenectomized mice. The implications of these results in evaluating the chemotherapy of virus-induced murine and human leukemia are discussed.

¹ This work was supported by Research Grant CA 08725-01A1 HEM from the NIH, USPHS and the American Cancer Society, Inc. Research Grant E 305C.

² Supported by USPHS Grant FR 00266-01

Received 7/17/67. Accepted 10/12/67.