title: Increment of immune responses in mice perinatal stages after zinc supplementation.
abstract: A model of BALB/c mice was developed to determine the effects of zinc supplements on immune responses during certain stages of ontogeny. The mice received zinc acetate in drinking water concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg/l during the periods of gestation, lactation and postweaning. The sequence employed in this study was: (I) 0/0 (II) 500/500 (III) 1000/1000 (IV) 0/0/0 (V) 500/500/500 and (VI) 1000/1000/1000 with their respective controls. No changes were observed in the general appearance, growth curves, hematocrit or signs of achromotrichia between treated and control animals. Group II and III showed a significant increase in 3H-thymidine-determined splenic lymphoproliferation, while groups V and VI exhibited an important decrease. A significant increase in plaque-forming cell response (IgM) was observed after the period of lactation in groups II and III as well as in groups V and VI. Zinc concentrations determined by atomic absorption in liver and thymus were significantly higher in all treated mice 42 days after birth. Results suggest that for carefully monitored periods and doses, oral zinc supplements might have a beneficial effect over some immune responses in the perinatal stages.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lastra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastelín
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Orihuela
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc