Malnutrition and immunity. III. Effect of malnutrition on the number of rosettes that form splenic lymphocytes in rats.
Although malnutrition is considered to be a secondary immunodeficiency, some authors have reported that a deficient protein-calorie intake can improve the quality of immune responses in specific circumstances. It is possible that the deficient function of some T lymphocytes in malnourished individuals can be compensated by an increase in the number or biologic activity of others. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to experimental malnutrition for five weeks; this was followed by the utilization of splenic lymphocytes for rosette formation with sensitized red cells (EA) and Leydig cells. In animals with a hypoproteic diet there was a significant increase in lymphocytes forming EA rosettes; on the other hand there was a decrease in those united to Leydig cells. This can mean that malnourished rats compensate this deficit increasing its K lymphocytes or that ratios between suppressor and helper lymphocytes were altered.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*
D011961:Receptors, Fc