Abstract
The thymus and spleen of zinc deficient rats and mice weighed less and contained fewer mononuclear cells compared with findings in zinc replete controls fed ad libitum and pair fed controls. The number of IgG producing cells in the spleen was reduced. Cytotoxic response of spleen cells of zinc deficient animals immunized in vivo was reduced. There was an increase in natural killer cell activity whereas antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity was unchanged. Thymic hormone activity was markedly reduced. These observations substantiate the marked suppression of cellular immunity in zinc deprivation.
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References
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Chandra, R.K., Heresi, G. Cell-mediated immune responses in zinc-deficient animals. Indian J Pediatr 49, 427–430 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02834438
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02834438