Suppression of antibody response by excess dietary zinc exposure during certain stages of ontogeny.
A study was made of the effects of excess dietary zinc on the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice. C57BL/6J mice were divided into 10 different dietary groups and exposed to diets containing zinc in normal (50 ppm) or excess (2000 ppm) concentrations during gestation/lactation/postweaning development in the sequences (1) 50/50/50; (2) 50/50/2000; (3) 2000/50/50; (4) 2000/2000/50; (5) 2000/50/2000; (6) 50/2000/50; (7) 50/2000/2000; (8) 2000/2000/2000; (9) 50/50/50 (pair-fed); and (10) chow/chow/chow. Mice in group 8 had severe signs of copper deficiency at 8 weeks of age, such as reduced plasma copper, lowered plasma hematocrit, and achromotrichia. Mice receiving 2000 ppm zinc during gestation had fewer offspring per litter (measured at 2 weeks of age) and more nonviable births than mice given 50 ppm zinc during gestation. The growth curve of mice exposed to excess zinc in the 50/50/2000 group was identical to that of the control (50/50/50) group. Growth curves for all other groups were reduced by varying amounts. The plaque-forming cell response to SRBC was reduced only in the groups receiving 50/2000/2000 and 2000/2000/2000 ppm zinc (P less than 0.05); this reduced response was not associated with atrophy of the lymphoid organs. Splenic cell surface markers and mitogenic responsiveness were similar in the 50/50/50 and 2000/2000/2000 groups. These results suggest that the immune response is more susceptible to dietary manipulation during development than after the immune response has been developed.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006128:Growth; D006200:Hair Color / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007774:Lactation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014886:Weaning; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000941:Antigens; D008934:Mitogens; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc