Effects of Maternal Iron Deficiency During Reproduction on Phagocytosis, Antibody Formation and Cell Growth in the Suckling Rat (Immune Response)
Kochanowski, Barbara Ann
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/77447
Description
Title
Effects of Maternal Iron Deficiency During Reproduction on Phagocytosis, Antibody Formation and Cell Growth in the Suckling Rat (Immune Response)
Author(s)
Kochanowski, Barbara Ann
Issue Date
1984
Department of Study
Food Science
Discipline
Food Science
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Health Sciences, Nutrition
Language
eng
Abstract
The effects of maternal dietary iron deficiency during reproduction on the development of the immune response in offspring were investigated. Pregnant Sprague/Dawley rats were fed one of three diets throughout gestation and lactation: 6 ppm iron (severe anemia), 12 ppm iron (moderate anemia), 250 ppm iron (control). In Experiment 1, phagocytosis was measured in 17-day-old pups by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction. NBT reduction per ml blood was similar among 6, 12 and 250 ppm iron pups, despite a significant increase in phagocytes/ul blood. Plasma lysozyme and peroxidase activities were increased in 6 ppm iron pups. Hyperlipidemia and release of immature phagocytes from bone marrow (left shift) were possible mechanisms for the impaired phagocytosis. In Experiment 2, antibody formation to sheep red blood cells was measured in 17- and 42-day-old rats by the Jerne plaque assay. Plaque formation (igG and IgM) was decreased in both groups of iron-deficient pups by at least 50% compared to controls on day 17. Postweaning iron repletion (35 ppm iron from days 21-42) to 6 and 12 ppm iron pups improved antibody formation but did not restore it to the control level. Three weeks of postweaning iron deficiency (6 ppm iron) to pups weaned from dams fed 250 ppm iron resulted in impaired antibody formation in 42-day-old rats. Thymus and spleen were analyzed for DNA and protein. Iron-deficient pups (day 17) had decreased DNA concentrations in their thymuses. Iron repletion postweaning restored thymus DNA concentration to the control level. However, thymus total DNA (cell number) and spleen protein concentration remained significantly decreased following postweaning iron repletion. In 2-day-old pups, DNA synthesis was significantly increased in spleen, which likely reflected increased hemopoiesis. On day 17, iron-deficient pups had significantly decreased DNA synthesis in liver. Preliminary data indicated that the specific activity of ribonucleotide reductase, the iron-dependent, rate-limiting enzyme in DNA biosynthesis, was decreased in spleens of iron-deficient 2- and 17-day-old rats. These changes in cellular growth in thymus and spleen of iron-deficient rat pups partially explain the observed defects in antibody production.
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