title: Influence of protein restriction on lymphoid cell populations characterized by the binding of peanut agglutinin.
abstract: Cells binding peanut agglutinin (PNA) were studied in the thymus, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes from mice placed in the post weaning period on protein-restricted diets containing 8% (R8%) and 4% (R4%) casein. The proportion of PNA+ thymocytes and the absolute number of total and PNA+ cells in the thymus were significantly diminished in R8% and R4% mice. Larger proportion of PNA+ thymocytes showed weaker fluorescence in R8% and R4% than in normally fed (N) animals. Recovery of PNA+ thymocytes was observed in R8% but not in R4% mice at 8 weeks. The number of total and PNA+ cells was significantly diminished although the proportion of PNA+ cells was not modified in the peripheral lymphoid organs of R8% and R4% mice. Results indicate that protein restriction preferentially affected the immature cortical PNA+ cells in the thymus whereas cell depletion in the peripheral lymphoid organs occurred at the expense of both the PNA+ and PNA- subpopulations.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011485:Protein Binding; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000097:blood*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins