Endocrines and Their Relation to Influenza Virus Infection

Treatment with testosterone increases proliferation of influenza virus as well as protein anabolism. A relative lack of testosterone caused by castration is associated with a diminished rate of virus growth. When protein catabolism is increased by ACTH or cortisone, the rate of virus proliferation decreases. These results suggest the existence of a correlation between alterations of protein metabolism and virus proliferation.