SummaryThe effects of ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and hysterectomy on total and differential white blood cell counts, distribution of T and B lymphocytes and T /B cell relationship were studied. Changes in these parameters associated with the surgical operations were observed in total leukocytes and lymphocytes, absolute and relative band neutrophils and T/B cell relationship. Results suggest that the ovaries together with the uterus are potential regulatory organs upon the absolute number of circulating leukocytes and lymphocytes in female Lewis rats. In addition to their effects upon this important population of cells, the ovaries and uterus have moderate effects upon relative T and B lymphocyte numbers in peripheral blood. In general the changes depend mainly on the removal of the ovaries and to a lesser degree on hysterectomy.

The effects of ovariectomy on morphologically demonstrable characteristics of lymphoid tissue, pituitary, and adrenal glands as well as on plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels and humoral immunity of female Lewis rats were investigated. The present study establishes ovaries as potential regulatory organs upon thymus, pituitary, and adrenal glands in female Lewis rats. In addition to the effects on these important lymphoid organs and endocrine glands, ovariectomy influenced the time course of serum IgM antibody titres against fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), but had only moderate effects upon serum IgG antibody titres. In conclusion, the present results suggest that ovariectomy modifies morphological characteristics of the thymus and pituitary-adrenal axis. Furthermore, circulating corticosterone seems to play an important role in regulating antibody formation in intact compared to ovariectomized female Lewis rats, while the influence of thymic mass is far from clear.

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