Protein deprivation: its effects on fever and plasma iron during bacterial infection in rabbits.

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Abstract
The effects of chronic dietary protein deprivation on fever and host plasma Fe reduction in bacterially infected rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were investigated. Injection with Pasturella multocida, a gram-negative bacterium pathogenic to rabbits, led to an attenuated 24 h fever in protein-deprived rabbits (0.26.degree. C) compared with the 24 h fever in control rabbits (1.43.degree. C). Plasma Fe concentration remained relatively high in protein-deprived rabbits as measured 24 h after injection with bacteria. Total Fe binding capacity did not change in protein-deprived rabbits as measured 24 h after injection with bacteria. Inoculation of the rabbits with endogenous pyrogen from donor rabbits resulted in fever and reduction in plasma Fe concentration of equal magnitude in protein-deprived and control rabbits. There were no differences in concentration of total circulating leukocytes or in differential count between protein-deprived and control rabbits before and 24 h after injection with bacteria. Chronic protein deprivation in rabbits may result in diminished synthesis and/or release of endogenous pyrogen from circulating leukocytic phagocytes, resulting in attenuated fever and relative hyperferremia during infection.

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