Studies of leukocytic enzymes in vitamin A deficiency

A study was carried out on 300 rats to reveal the effect of vitamin A deficiency on total protein, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], acid phosphatase, and lactic acid dchydroggenase [LDH] in the leukocytes extraction. It was found that serum level of retinol was significantly reduced in vitamin A deficient rats. Hypovitaminosis A was accompanied by significant reduction in total protein in leukocytes extract in deprived rats as compared t control ones. Vitamin A deficiency also had an effect on lcukocytes enzymatic activity as the ALP, ACP ACP and LHD enzymes in WBC[s] extract were significantly decreased in deficient rats as compared to control ones

Effect of vitamin A deficiency on lymphocytes and immunity

This study was done on 300 rats of 3 weeks age, divided into 2 groups: 200 rats were maintained on vitamin A deficient diet. Vitamin A levels in both serum and liver of deficient rats were greatly reduced as compared to control ones. Vitamin A was found to have an effect on growth where the body weight and organs weight in deficient rats were significantly decreased as compared to control groups. Vitamin A deficiency is accompanied by changes in protein synthesis with a significant reduction in total protein in serum and liver in deprived rats as compared to control ones. The change in protein in turn affects antibody production. Vitamin A has a role in protection againts infection, where severe vitamin A deficiency leads to increased susceptibility to infection. This is due to the mucous membranes beeing damaged by the vitamin A deficiency to the extent that natural barriers is weakened which is partly attributable to the decrease in lymphocytic tissue function and number where there is a marked leukopenia and decrease in the percentage of lymphocytes in deprived rats as compared to control ones. Hypovitaminosis A not only affects the number of the cell [leukopenia] but also it affects the capacity and function of these cells to respond E. coli polysaccharide antigen in vitamin A deficient rats indicating lack of cell mediated immune response. Vitamin A plays a role in biosynthesis of gamma- globulins where the immunoglobulins [IgG, IgM and IgA] were decreased significantly in deprived rats as compared to controls i.e. vitamin A deficiency impaired humoral immunity

Histochemical studies of alkaline phosphatase in different hamster tissues with schistosoma mansoni

Alkaline phosphatase [AP] was studied histochemically in different hamster tissues after Schistosoma mansoni infection. The results showed that the spleen AP increases in early stage after infection, suggesting immunological function for the spleen. In the liver, the AP content increased after the 5th week of infection. The site of the enzyme was shown to be around the endothelium of the blood vessels and blood sinusoids. After infection, the enzyme contents increased in the same sites as before infection, and in addition, there was deposition of the enzyme around and on the ova. In the normal intestine, AP was located in the epithelial surface, which decreased after infection and was replaced by higher content around and on the ova. Kidney AP did not show any change after infection, in quantity or site