EFFECT OF MALNUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION ON TUBERCULIN REACTIVITY AND COMPLEMENT LEVEL IN RATS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (2) , 413-420
Abstract
The effect of differing nutritional states on various components of the immune system, especially on the interplay of the complement [C] system and cell-mediated immunity was studied. Malnutrition was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by feeding them diets containing 5% protein or 0.5% protein as compared with 18% protein in the diet of the controls. Nutritional rehabilitation was achieved in some experimental groups by transferring those fed 0.5% protein diet to the 18% protein diet. Malnutrition was confirmed by wt changes, biochemical findings in the sera, hematological observations and histological observation of the liver; rehabilitation was confirmed by body wt increase and other measurement changes. Tuberculin skin reactivity was suppressed in rats suffering malnutrition. After feeding the 0.5% protein diet for 8 wk, all rats showed negative tuberculin skin reactions. In malnourished rats, including those fed with 0.5% protein, the serum C level decreased but did not show significant differences as compared with the well nourished control group. After 1 wk of nutritional rehabilitation, the tuberculin reactivity of 6 of 10 rats remained negative and after 2 wk, all rats showed positive tuberculin reactions. After 1 wk of nutritional rehabilitation, all rats showed normal or higher serum C level. At this stage, 2 tuberculin-negative rats showed significantly higher titer of serum C than the controls.