Closing a loop: The entire modern field of regulatory T cells emerged from the ashes of the suppressor T cell field because of experiments showing destruction of the reproductive system following neonatal thymectomy.
"We found that Treg depletion induces severe autoimmune orchitis and epididymitis, manifested by an exacerbated immune cell infiltration [CD4 T cells, monocytes, and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs)] and the development of antisperm antibodies (ASA)."
@Kaetchi The initial hypothesis was that the thymus was exerting an endocrine function on gonad development:
"In view of our results, it seems plausible to propose that the thymus has the newly described function of controlling the reproductive faculty in the female mouse."
https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.166.3906.753
@cyrilpedia had no idea about this history of Treg 👍🏽🙏🏽