Comment: It took 16 hours for hamster males to return to normal immune response.

1989 Sep;3(3):274-80.
Kress DW1, Ostrowski NL, McRae BL, Arora PK.

1 Section on Clinical Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Abstract

The possibility that sexual behavior is associated with changes in natural killer cell activity was explored using a 4-h chromium-51 release assay. Mated male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) showed a significant suppression of natural killer cell activity 2 h after sexual activity relative to matched Virgin controls. Natural killer cell activity returned to control levels by 16 h postmating. The suppression of natural killer cell activity did not correlate with changes in plasma cortisol, transcortin, or testosterone levels, or with ejaculatory or intromissive behaviors. Administration of 0.40 mg/100 g of testosterone also suppressed natural killer activity at 2 h.