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. 1991 Feb;150(4):238-41.
doi: 10.1007/BF01955520.

Effects of short-term administration of human chorionic gonadotropin on immune functions in cryptorchid children

M Maghnie  1 , A Valtorta, A Moretta, D Larizza, M A Girani, F Severi
Affiliations

Effects of short-term administration of human chorionic gonadotropin on immune functions in cryptorchid children

M Maghnie et al. Eur J Pediatr. 1991 Feb.

Abstract

To delineate the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on immune responsiveness, immunological parameters including serum immunoglobulins, total and differential white blood cell count T and B lymphocyte membrane phenotype, in vitro, proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin A (ConA) and pokeweed mitogen were studied in 13 prepubertal cryptorchid boys before, during, and 3 months after hCG therapy. Before treatment, all the immunological parameters were normal except for an unexpected high percentage of T suppressor-cytotoxic cells (CD8+). During therapy, the absolute number of total peripheral blood lymphocytes, and that of total T-cells, T helper-inducer cells and of CD8+ subsets were diminished. The percentage of CD8+ cells and lymphocyte response to ConA decreased significantly and returned to normal after hCG withdrawal. The possible effects of long-term hCG treatment remain to be determined.

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