title: Effect of calf thymus extract and zinc supplementation on the cellular response of mice exposed to restraint stress.
abstract: The studies were carried out on Balb/c mice exposed to restraint stress twice for 12 h at 24 h intervals. Prior to stress exposure, the mice were treated with calf thymus extract (TFX - Jelfa) i.p. at a dose of 10 mg/kg, ten times at 24 h intervals. TFX was used per se or with zinc ions interaction, by adding zinc ions (as sulfate salt) to drinking water at a dose of 72 microg/mouse per day. The results obtained show that restraint stress dramatically decreased the total number of thymocytes and splenocytes which is also accompanied by decreasing weight ratio of the thymus and spleen. The decreasing number of thymic and spleen cells corresponded to a diminishing percentage of immature, double-positive CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, mature single-positive CD4+ thymic cells and CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ splenocytes. Changes in the number of thymic cells affect their activity, which is expressed as a decreased proliferative response of thymocytes stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Besides, exposure to the restraint stress decreased interleukin-1 (IL-1) production by murine intraperitoneal macrophages stimulated in vitro with lipopolisacharide (LPS) from E. coli. Previous treatment with TFX counteracted restraint stress-induced immunosuppression, which is expressed as partial normalisation of the total number of thymic and spleen cells, accelerated regeneration of these two lymphatic organs, shortned suppressive action of restraint stress on the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and CD4+ splenocytes and in total normalisation of the CD4+ thymocytes and CD8+ splenocytes. TFX administered prior to restraint stress not only counteracted the suppresive effects of stress on the proliferative activity of thymic cells stimulated in vitro with Con A and PHA, but also augmented the proliferative response of these cells to two mitogens. The immunorestorative effect of TFX was augmented by zinc supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland. m.mrukowicz@triangulum.pl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obmińiska-Mrukowicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczypka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008934:Mitogens; D013949:Thymus Extracts; D015032:Zinc