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The Role of Corticosterone in the Loss in Immune Function in the Zinc-Deficient A/J Mouse¹

Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that zinc deficiency causes rapid atrophy of the thymus with subsequent loss of T-cell helper function in the young adult A/J mouse. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if zinc deficiency constituted a chronic stress on the mouse leading to the elevation of glucocorticoid levels which is known to destroy thymic lymphocytes. The results of these experiments indicate that zinc-deficient mice indeed have increased levels of plasma corticosterone (115 µg/100 ml plasma) compared to mice fed zinc-adequate diets (40 µg/100 ml plasma). A significant reduction in T-cell helper function, which occurred 4 days after this rise in steroid concentration, suggests that corticosterone may contribute to the loss in immunity; however, about half of the total loss in T-cell helper function occurred prior to the increase in plasma corticosterone and was due to other factors associated with the lowered zinc levels.

KEY WORDS: • zinc deficiency • corticosterone • mice • immunity

¹ This work was supported in part by N.I.H. Grant No. HD-10586 and the Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation.

Manuscript received 6 November 1978.

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