IMPAIRED LOCAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN VITAMIN-A-DEFICIENT RATS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (1) , 127-135
Abstract
The functional integrity of the local immune system in vitamin A-deficient (A-) rats was investigated. Secretory Ig[immunoglobulin]A levels in the intestinal fluid of A- rats were significantly lower than in controls. This and the decrease in intensity of immunofluorescent staining for secretory component (SC) in the intestinal cells was related to the duration of vitamin A deprivation. IgG levels in the intestinal fluid, and serum IgA and IgG levels were unaffected in deficiency. When the response of animals to DNP504BGG [dinitrophenyl-bovine .gamma. globulin] was evaluated, the local anti-DNP response in the intestine was markedly depressed. These defects may result from impaired synthesis of SC by epithelial cells. The serum antibody response in deficient animals was not noticeably different from that of the controls; if any, there was a slight reduction in the affinity of antibody.