Exogenous testosterone modulates tumor necrosis factor-α and acute phase protein responses to repeated endotoxin challenge in steers

Clinical responses to some disease agents differ between sexes and this dimorphism has been attributed to the immunomodulating effects of steroid hormones. Our objective was to determine in steers the effect of testosterone on circulating concentrations of immune response mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; serum amyloid-A, SAA; haptoglobin, HG; xanthine oxidase, XO; nitric oxide, NO) after two consecutive endotoxin challenges (LPS1 and LPS2, 5 days apart; 0.25 μg/kg BW). Sixteen crossbred steers (328 ± 6 kg) were assigned to control (CON, n = 8) or testosterone cypionate treatment (TES, n = 8; 100 mg/m2 body surface; i.m. injection 12 and 2 days before LPS1). The response to LPS was calculated as area under the time × concentration curve (AUC) for the parameter measured. After LPS1, TNF-α AUC was greater in TES than CON (P < 0.05). Plasma HG and SAA concentrations increased (P < 0.01) after LPS1 and LPS2. In all steers SAA AUC was greater after LPS1 than LPS2 (P < 0.01) but the response was augmented over CON with testosterone treatment (P < 0.05). HG response to LPS1 within 24 h was not affected by testosterone. However, 5 days after LPS1 mean plasma HG concentration remained higher in TES than CON (P < 0.01). HG response to LPS2 was greater in TES than CON (P < 0.01). Plasma nitrate + nitrite concentration (NO production marker) and XO activity increased after each LPS challenge but responses were not affected by testosterone treatment. Results indicate that the presence of circulating testosterone increases the magnitude of the TNF-α response to LPS challenge as well as the subsequent increases in acute phase proteins (APP). Effects of testosterone on increases in TNF-α and APP may underlie a differential presentation of disease symptoms between sexes or between steers and bulls. The data also suggest a role for testosterone in the development of tolerance to repeated immune challenge through its effect on the increased magnitude and duration of HG response.