Immunological effects of amino acid deficiency and zinc overloading in rats

ABSTRACT

The dual effect of amino acid deficiency and zinc hypersupplementation upon both cell mediated and humoral immune responses was studied in male albino Sprague Dawely rats. Results indicated that phytohaemagglutinin [PHA] and poke weed mitogenic response [PWM], in rats fed deficient amino acid [a.a.] and normal zinc [Zn] diet, was significantly decreased. However, upon Zn supplementation, no significant change could be observed in either PHA or PWM. On the other hand, haemagglutinin as well as plaque forming cells [PFC] were diminished in rats fed deficient a.a. and normal Zn. Hyperapplication of Zn in the diet provided a marked decrease in PFC but had no effect upon haemagglutinin. The prominent outcome of this study is that the immune response whether cell-mediated or humoral does not appear to be substantially influenced by dietary amino acid type but by its deficiency in the diet. It can also be concluded that Zn alone has failed in treating the impairment of humoral immune response, caused by amino acid deficiency; and that Zn and amino acids play an important role in the alteration of the immune response due to heir interindependent relationship