Sex-based Disparities in Immune Response to Oral Candidiasis: A Wistar Rat Model Study.

Introduction: The minimal use of female animals for research can be the reason why many therapies and treatments for women fail. Aims: This study aims to assess the impact of sex differences on the immune response in Wistar rats subjected to oral candidiasis, focusing on evaluating IL-17 plasma levels and related haematological parameters. Materials and methods: The female and male rats were divided into one control group (C) and two treatment groups (T1 and (T2). Both treatment groups were given tetracycline-containing drinking water to reduce the bacterial number in the oral cavity and injected with Methylprednisolone HCL to decrease the immune system on the day before and after inoculating Candida albicans. The IL-17 plasma level, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), White Blood Count (WBC), and Leucocyte Differential Counting (Diff. count.) were measured 5 days after treatment in T1 and 8 days after treatment in T2. Results: In female rats with oral candidiasis, IL-17 plasma levels and WBC were lower than in males 5 and 8 days after Candida albicans inoculation. ESR and Differential Count showed no significant differences between females and males across all groups. Conclusion: In the Wistar rat model of oral candidiasis, sex-specific variations in immune response were observed, particularly in the IL-17 plasma levels. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex differences in preclinical studies for a more comprehensive understanding of host responses to fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]