Objective To study the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the
weight, memory and immune function in older rats.Methods
The DHEA was filled into the esophagus of the experimental group of rats for forty days (once each other day). Then the memory abilities were measured by one-trial passive avoidance task and the T and B-lymphocyte transformations were examined by 3H-TdR incorporation experiment. The enzyme linkedimmunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to
determine the plasma IgG level in rats.The cell line YAC-I was used as targets to determine the NK activity and the
weight of rats was weighed on the experimental day (once each three days).Results After DHEA treatment, the cell-mediated immunity, humoral immunity and NK activity and the memory retention in older rats were significantly enhanced nearing the level of young group compared to the control group. In addition, the DHEA might reduce the weight of the older rats markedly,but this effect to the young rats was not distinct.Conclusions The DHEA has an antiaging actions.