The influence of aluminum on resistance to listeria monocytogenes in Swiss-Webster mice.
Female, adult Swiss-Webster mice were fed, during gestation and subsequent lactation, diets containing either 25 (control), 500 or 1,000 micrograms Al/g diet in the form of Al lactate, followed by challenge with Listeria monocytogenes. Mice in the groups fed 1,000 and 500 micrograms Al/g had significantly lowered resistance to bacterial infection when compared to control animals (p less than 0.025). The animals given 1,000 micrograms Al/g also had higher concentrations of liver Al (p less than 0.05) than controls. Pups derived from these dams showed no differences in mortality rates or Al tissue levels. In contrast, nonpregnant animals fed 1,000 micrograms Al/g for 6 weeks had a slight decrease in mortality rate when compared to control animals. Dose-related changes in tissue Al levels were not observed in these adult, virgin mice. Finally, adult nonpregnant mice were injected subcutaneously with PBS only, or with 1, 5 or 10 mg of Al (in the form of Al lactate) per kilogram body weight followed by bacterial challenge. Animals which received 5 mg Al/kg had lower mortality rates to L. monocytogenes when compared to other treatment groups (p less than 0.025). This data suggests that Al has the potential to influence host resistance to bacterial infection depending on the physiological state of the host; it provides additional evidence for the role of Al as an environmental toxin.
Yoshida
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Gershwin
M E
ME
Keen
C L
CL
Donald
J M
JM
Golub
M S
MS
D000535:Aluminum / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007773:Lactates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D051379:Mice
D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000535:Aluminum