Ethanol consumption induces thymic atrophy and affects T cell maturation in the thymus. However, the mechanisms underlying such effects still need to be fully understood. We attempted to investigate the role of mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) on ethanol-induced thymic atrophy, T cell maturation dysfunction, and the role of oxidative stress in such responses. Male Wistar Hannover rats were treated with ethanol (20%
in volume ratio) and/or potassium canrenoate, an antagonist of MR (MRA
30 mg/kg/day, gavage) for five weeks. Blockade of MR prevented ethanol-induced increases in the number of double-positive (CD4