Effects Of Implanted Phechromocytoma On T4/T8 Ratio Of T-Lymphocytes In New England Deaconess Hospital Rat

The effect of implanted pheochromocytoma on (1) blood pressure, (2) catecholamine concentration, and (3) T4 and T8 lymphocyte subsets in the rat (New England Deaconess Hospital strain) was studied. Blood pressure increased significantly. Catecholamine concentrations rose greatly after tumor implant, with dopamine showing the greatest increase. T4 percentages decreased slightly as compared to pre-implant percentages. T8 results could be divided into two subsets based on a definite increase or a definite decrease from pre-implant percentages. Finally, rats that showed an increase of T8 cells had significantly greater concentrations of dopamine (and, to a lesser extent, epinephrine and norepinephrine) than those with a decrease of T8 cells.