QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Spach, C. Articles by Aschkenasy, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Spach, C. Articles by Aschkenasy, A.

Cyclic AMP and GMP Levels in Thymocytes and Splenic T and B Lymphocytes in Protein Deprived Rats

Laboratoire d'Hématologie Nutritionnelle, Centre Marcel Delépine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 45045 Orléans Cédex, France

Cyclic nucleotide levels were determined in thymocytes and in splenic T and B lymphocytes separated by nylon wool filtration. In control rats, thymocytes contained less cAMP and cGMP than splenic T cells. The level of cGMP was lower, and consequently cAMP:cGMP ratio was higher in splenic B than in T cells. Protein deprivation increased the nucleotide ratios in both T and B splenic lymphocytes; this effect was due to a decrease in the cGMP levels in the case of the T cells and to an increase in the cAMP levels in the B cells. These data could be related to the reduced mitotic activity of the splenic lymphocytes. However, the nylon-nonadherent thymocytes of protein deprived rats paradoxically displayed increased cGMP contents without changes in the cAMP levels, despite the drop in their proliferative potential. The impairment of cyclic nucleotide metabolism may intervene in the immunological disturbances due to protein malnutrition.

KEY WORDS: • cyclic AMP • cyclic GMP • lymphocytes • protein deficiency

Manuscript received 8 December 1976.