Depressed transformation response by splenic lymphocytes from vitamin A-deficient rats

Abstract

Concanaval in A (Con A)-stimulated lymphocytes isolated from the spleen of vitamin A-deficient rats showed decreased [ 3H]thymidine incorporation compared to pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls. This decrease was evident over a range of Con A concentrations (1–7 μg/ml), and the mitogen concentration which elicited maximum response was the same (2 μg/ml) for all three dietary groups. A three-day in vivo repletion with retinyl acetate led to recovery of normal or greater than normal [ 3H]thymidine incorporation at all concentrations of Con A. At time intervals when DNA synthesis was significantly increased by Con A (48, 72 and 96 hours after stimulation) the [ 3H]thymidine incorporation by vitamin A-deficient lymphocytes was always lower than that of pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls. Decreased splenocyte blastogenesis was also demonstrated for the B-cell mitogen E. coli lipopolysaccharide, which was not completely accounted for by reduced numbers of B-cells in the spleen of vitamin A-deficient rats.