en Immunology Immunology Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Many findings point to the presence of a close relationship between the immune, endocrine and neurologic systems. For example the suppressive effects of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) on IL-l production, the potentiative effect of enkephalins on lymphocyte functions and the suppressive effect of leuteinizing hormone (LH) on natural killer (NK) cell activities have been clearly established. In this regard we have studied the effects of β-HCG on neutrophil function in vitro. This study was performed on 28 peripheral blood neutrophil samples (14 as test and 14 as control), by incubating neutrophil preparations with bacteria in the presence or absence of the hormone for one hour at 37°C. The results indicated that with 20 IU/mL of hormone, the total and intracellular bactericidal activities of neutrophils were• significantly increased (p<0.05), but the phagocytic activity remained unchanged. Gonadotropin, human chorionic; n-eutrophil function 53 55 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-298-497&slc_lang=en&sid=1 M VODJGANI 20031947532846004919 20031947532846004919 Yes From the Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran. F AZADI 20031947532846004920 20031947532846004920 No J HAJATI 20031947532846004921 20031947532846004921 No M KARIMIAN 20031947532846004922 20031947532846004922 No