In vitro and in vivo effects of corticosteroids on peripheral blood lymphocytes from ponies

The in vitro and in vivo effects of corticosteroids on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from ponies were studied. Prednisolone inhibited lymphocyte stimulation by phytohemagglutin (PHA) in a dose-dependent manner, without inducing lysis even at large doses. The PBL from horses heterozygous for the combined immunodeficiency trait responded to corticosteroid treatment the same as did PBL from normal ponies. Removal of the corticosteroid after incubation with PBL from normal ponies partially restored responsiveness of these cells to PHA. Chronic in vivo treatment of ponies with corticosteroids caused a marked decrease in the absolute numbers of circulating lymphocytes. Most remaining lymphocytes had detectable surface immunoglobulin and C3 receptors, suggesting a greater decrease in the T-lymphocyte population. In spite of this, there was little change in the in vitro PHA- or keyhole limpet hemocyanin-sensitized ponies. In general, the corticosteroid effects of lysis, as well as the mitogenic and antigenic responses of PBL from ponies, were similar to those previously reported for human lymphocytes.