Thymosin and the spontaneously diabetic BB rat.

Winter WE, Robbins V, Elder M, Barrett D, Martin N, Maclaren NK

Autoimmunity1 Jan 1988Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID2979610DOI10.3109/08916938809001924PepBankPUB-02979610

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
At five months of age, the body's own thymosin alpha‑1 levels of BB rats were comparable to those of Lewis and Wistar Furth rats.
In plain wordsIn rats, the body's own thymosin alpha‑1 level in BB rats was similar to that of control rat strains.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeThymosin alpha 1 level in BB rats
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Comparator
Lewis and Wistar Furth rats
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
At five months of age, BB rats had thymosin alpha 1 levels comparable to Lewis and Wistar furth rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin alpha-1. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-0297961001

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

02AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BB rats, thymosin fraction 5 (a thymic extract) increased the ratio of peripheral blood W3/25 positive to OX8 positive cells.
In plain wordsIn rats, a thymic extract raised the ratio of two blood T-cell types.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseRatio of W3/25 positive to OX8 positive blood cells
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Thymosin fraction 5 increased the ratio of peripheral blood W3/25 positive to OX8 positive cells
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0297961002
03AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BB rats, thymosin fraction 5 (a thymic extract) had no effect on T-cell immunodeficiency.
In plain wordsIn rats, a thymic extract did not change T-cell immunodeficiency.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeT-cell immunodeficiency
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Thymosin fraction 5 increased the ratio of peripheral blood W3/25 positive to OX8 positive cells, but otherwise had no effect on the BB rats' T-cell immunodeficiency, or frequencies of tissue autoantibodies or insulin-dependent diabetes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0297961003
04AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BB rats, thymosin fraction 5 (a thymic extract) had no effect on the frequency of tissue autoantibodies.
In plain wordsIn rats, a thymic extract did not change how often tissue autoantibodies appeared.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeFrequency of tissue autoantibodies
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Thymosin fraction 5 increased the ratio of peripheral blood W3/25 positive to OX8 positive cells, but otherwise had no effect on the BB rats' T-cell immunodeficiency, or frequencies of tissue autoantibodies or insulin-dependent diabetes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0297961004
05AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BB rats, thymosin fraction 5 (a thymic extract) had no effect on the frequency of insulin-dependent diabetes.
In plain wordsIn rats, a thymic extract did not change how often diabetes developed.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeInsulin-dependent diabetes frequency
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
Thymosin fraction 5 increased the ratio of peripheral blood W3/25 positive to OX8 positive cells, but otherwise had no effect on the BB rats' T-cell immunodeficiency, or frequencies of tissue autoantibodies or insulin-dependent diabetes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0297961005
06AnimalNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In BB rats, thymosin fraction 5 (a thymic extract) improved B-lymphocyte blastogenesis to near normal for Mycoplasma neurolyticum.
In plain wordsIn rats, a thymic extract brought B-cell responses to one bacterial stimulus close to normal.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseB-lymphocyte blastogenesis for Mycoplasma neurolyticum
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Spontaneously diabetic BB rat
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
However, thymosin fraction 5 improved the BB rat B-lymphocyte blastogenesis to near normal for Mycoplasma neurolyticum.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In the present report, thymus gland function was studied by measuring thymosin alpha 1 levels at one time point in the BB rat compared with control rates, and BB rat responses to exogenous thymosin (Thymosin fraction 5) were observed.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0297961006

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
10 Oct 2026, 08:55 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC