Influence of sex hormones on coxsackie virus group B, type 3 induced myocarditis in Balb/c mice

Susceptibility to coxsackie virus group B, type 3 (CVB3) induced myocarditis changes with age. Very young (< 4 weeks) Balb/c mice show minimal cardiac injury after infection, while young adult males (6–12 weeks) develop severe myocarditis. Age-matched females remain largely protected. As the mice...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European heart journal 1987-11, Vol.8 (suppl-J), p.389-391
Main Authors: Lyden, D., Olsewski, J., Huber, S.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Myocarditis
sex hormones
steroids
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Summary:Susceptibility to coxsackie virus group B, type 3 (CVB3) induced myocarditis changes with age. Very young (< 4 weeks) Balb/c mice show minimal cardiac injury after infection, while young adult males (6–12 weeks) develop severe myocarditis. Age-matched females remain largely protected. As the mice continue to age, susceptibility in females gradually increases while that in males decreases, ultimately resulting in equal myocardial damage between the sexes by 40 weeks of age. Enhanced myocarditis in old females correlates withincreased humoral and cellular immunity to the virus and heart antigens and results from decreased oestrogen levels in these animals.
ISSN:0195-668X
1522-9645
DOI:10.1093/eurheartj/8.suppl_J.389