Abstract
To investigate the effect of retinoids on immune function, retinyl acetate(A), retinoic acid(RA) and methyl 5,6-epoxyretinoate(Epo-A) were injected to vitamin A deficient (A DEF) rats and their effects were compared with that of A DEF rats. PHA skin test was carried out during the period of retinoid injection(1 μg/day). After the retinoid injection of 100–500 μg i.m., blood was drawn for measuring serum protein fractions, and the spleen was investigated. Reactivity to PHA was increased after the injection of A, RA and Epo-A. Serum IgG levels were elevated in Epo-A group. Spleen weight and its mononuclear cell count increased after the injection of A, RA, and Epo-A. Histologically, the periarterial sheath was attenuated, packed with small lymphocytes, and the germinal center was rudimentary in A DEF rats. In the A and RA injected group, on the other hand, lymphatic nodules with well developed germinal centers were present and large, clear cells were found diffusely around the periarterial region. These findings suggest that A and RA may act to maintain well developed B cells in A DEF rats. Furthermore, it is suggested that Epo-A can also act to enhance the immune function of A DEF rats.
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