Nutrition disorder and immunologic parameters: study of the intestinal villi in growing rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present work was to study how a diet in which cereals were the only protein source would affect B and T lymphocytes and a cell population positive for thymus-expressed chemokine (TECK) in the intestinal villi of growing rats.


METHODS
Wistar rats were fed a 6.5% precooked maize protein diet for 18-20 d (M group). An age-matched control group received stock diet (C group). Body weight (grams) was determined, ponderal growth rate (grams per day per 100 g) was calculated, and intestines were removed and processed by Saint-Marie's technique. Tissue sections were studied by indirect immunofluorescence. CD5(+) T cells and the T-cell subsets TCRalphabeta(+), TCRgammadelta(+), CD4(+), CD8alpha(+), and CD8beta(+) in the lamina propria (LP) and intraepithelium, in addition to immunoglobulin A-positive B cells in the LP were determined (n cells/30 fields were read). In addition, the presence of the TECK(+) cell population was qualitatively assessed.


RESULTS
The M versus C group showed statistically significant differences in body weight and ponderal growth rate. The number of immunoglobulin A-positive B cells in the LP and the CD5(+) T cells and CD4(+), CD8alpha(+), CD8beta(+), TCRalphabeta(+), and TCRgammadelta(+) T-cell subpopulations of the M group in the LP and intraepithelium of the gut villi were significantly decreased compared with the C group (P < 0.001). The M group also showed differences in the size and cellularity of the gut villi and in the distribution of TECK.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that intake of a low concentration of a low-quality dietary protein as the only source of protein produces an important disorder in the mucosal immunity of experimental rats.
Vidueiros
Silvina Mariela
SM
Department of Nutrition, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fernandez
Inés
I
Slobodianik
Nora
N
Roux
María Estela
ME
Pallaro
Anabel
A
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000592:standards; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014886:Weaning
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A