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Effects of Food Restriction and Realimentation on Serum Proteins: Complement Levels and Electrophoretic Patterns¹

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California

The effects of food restriction and refeeding on the hemolytic complement activity and electrophoretic patterns of the serum proteins of adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. Groups of rats, fed 50% of the food required for weight maintenance, were bled following weight losses of 12, 26 and 33%. Other groups were repleted following depletion and bled when their initial weight was regained. Complement levels became significantly decreased in the 12% depleted group, but increased in the 26 and 33% groups. Values for the repleted groups were in the normal range. The depletion regimen caused significant decreases in total serum protein, albumin, ₁- and ß-globulins while ₂- and -globulin levels were either normal or increased. Total protein, albumin and ₁-globulin concentrations remained significantly low in the repleted groups whereas ₂- and -globulins were either normal or significantly increased. It was concluded that (a) in semi-starvation states there is a conservation of serum components which are involved in native and acquired resistance to infectious agents; and (b) albumin, ₁- and ß-globulins provide a labile reserve of proteins for tissue utilization and maintenance.

Manuscript received 22 July 1963.