Nicholas RS Hall; Robert L. Jenkins; Joseph P. McGillis; Janelle Hatcher; Allan L. Goldstein
Department of Biochemistry, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC; Marineland Research Laboratory, Marineland of Florida, Augustine, FL
Hormonal-like polypeptides isolated from the thymus gland have been found to influence a variety of immunologic parameters. These include the differentiation of T-lymphocytes as well as the modulation of macrophage activity. Recent evidence also implicates the thymosin peptides in the modulation of pituitary hormones that in turn can have profound effects upon host defense.
In a survey of 25 animals representing four cetacean species, we have detected in serum a substance that cross reacts with an antibody made against synthetic thymosin α1. A comparison of circulating levels of this cross reactive peptide with the health status of the animal revealed a significant elevation with impaired health. All of the stranded cetaceans, representing Kogia breviceps and Globicephala macrorhyncha, had elevated thymosin α1, levels compared with healthly conspecifics being maintained in captivity.
These observations suggest a correlation between the endocrine thymus and health status of cetaceans. A similar correlation has been observed in humans. The results also raise the possibility of modulating the immune status of the animals to treat certain disorders.