الفهرس 
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Abstract
This work was done to study the effect of testosterone hormone on the involution of the thymus gland of adult male albino rate.50 adult rats were used in this study, divided into 5 groups, one control group and four test groups.These test groups were injected intramuscularly with testosterone hormone for variable periods. The thymus was examined using some histological and histochemical procedures.
from results it may be concluded that the testosterone hormone ,as well as, the other steroid hormones have a marked effect on the thymus gland by increasing the rate of its involution and consequently depressing its function. This effect is not influenced by the sex or species of the animal but it can be affected by the age of the animal.
It is suggested that the hormone affects reticuloepithelial cells through specific androgen receptors in the cytoplasm of these cells. The epithelial cells therefore are inhibited to secrete the factors responsible for the differentiation of thymocytes. The latter cells are removed in greater rates than they are formed in the cortex, thus resulting in their depletion from the gland in general and the outer cortex in particular.