Experimental study on effects of iron deficiency anemia on immune function

Abstract

Weanling rats and mice were fed on a low-iron diet. By the end of the 4th week, the rats were sacrificed and tested for state 01 immunity, and the mice were infected with S. typhimurium. Rate of peripheral blood lymphocytic transformation, total serum complement activity (CH₅₀) and splenic tissue cAMP levels in the iron-deficient rats were significantly decreased as compared with those of the controls. There was no significant difference in the levels of serum hemolysin (HC₅₀) and serum lysozyme between iron-deficient and control rats. Gross histological changes could be observed in the spleen of the iron-deficient rats, but no change was seen in the thymus. After intraperitoneal injection with S. typhimurium, the mortality of iron-deficient mice was significantly increased as compared with that of the controls.

Keywords

iron deficiency anemia / immune function

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