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Dietary repletion can replenish reduced T cell subset numbers and lymphoid organ weight in zinc-deficient and energy-restricted rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Heather J. Hosea ,
Edward S. Rector  and
Carla G. Taylor
Heather J. Hosea
Affiliation:
Departments of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. R3T 2N2, Canada
Edward S. Rector
Affiliation:
Departments of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. R3T 2N2, Canada
Carla G. Taylor*
Affiliation:
Departments of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. R3T 2N2, Canada
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Carla G. Taylor, fax +1 204 474 8079, email ctaylor@ms.umanitoba.ca
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Abstract

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The objective of the present study was to investigate the time course for recovery of lymphoid tissue and T cell subset numbers when Zn-deficient (ZD) or energy-restricted (ER) rats were repleted with control diet; in a second experiment, the link between the stress axis and lymphoid organs was explored. During the deficiency phase, rats were fed a ZD (<1 mg Zn/kg) or control diet (30 mg Zn/kg, nutritionally complete) either as pair-fed controls (ER) or ad libitum-fed controls (CTL) for 3 weeks. During the repletion phase, all rats were fed control diet ad libitum for 3, 7 or 23 d. After the deficiency phase, ZD and ER had lower T cell subset numbers in the thymus compared with CTL, and ZD had reduced T cell subset numbers in the spleen compared with both ER and CTL. T cell subset numbers and lymphoid organ weights recovered from dietary Zn deficiency and energy restriction by 7 d of repletion (except 23 d for thymus weight in ZD), while body weight required more than 23 d for recovery. At the end of the deficiency phase, ZD and ER had higher circulating corticosterone concentrations compared with CTL; plasma TNFα was not detectable and there were no differences in plasma haptoglobin, an acute-phase protein. In conclusion, Zn deficiency and energy restriction elevated circulating corticosterone and reduced T cell subset numbers in the thymus and spleen of growing rats. Repletion with a nutritionally complete diet allowed recovery of T cell subset numbers and lymphoid organ weight.

Keywords

T cell subsetsZinc deficiencyEnergy restrictionRepletionRats
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 91 , Issue 5 , May 2004 , pp. 741 - 747
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

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