title: The effect of various dietary restricted regimes on some immunological parameters of mice.
abstract: To test the effect of dietary protein restriction on mitogenesis and the mixed leukocyte reaction in the mouse immune system two protocols were followed: 1) a 4% protein diet ad libitum and 2) a standard diet of 24% protein fed only on alternate days, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (intermittent feeding). The effect of dietary restriction was tested on weanling animals, placed on the dietary regimes for 1 and 6 month periods and adult animals (17 months of age) for 6 months of restriction. The results indicate that dietary restriction has a profoundly suppressive effect on mitogenesis and MLC1 during the first months of growth (i.e. weanling animals tested after 1 month of restriction). After 6 months of continued restriction suppression was no longer observed in the weanling animals. The 17 month old animals placed on restricted dietary regimes for 6 months showed results similar to the control group. The intermittently fed animals present a more complex picture. Initial suppression of the responses, observed in weanling animals after 1 month of restriction gave way to responses which are significantly higher than control levels after 6 months of dietary restriction. The results are discussed in terms of a general model of immunological stress.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins