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Development of Spleen and Thymus in Offspring of Protein-deficient Rats¹

Food and Nutrition Department, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa

Maternal protein deficiency was induced by feeding a diet containing 5% protein (methionine-supplemented casein) from conception to day 18 of pregnancy, conception to parturition, or 1 day postpartum to weaning. Control diets containing 15% protein were fed to the females, except at the times indicated, and to the offspring after weaning. Growth of the thymus and spleen in progeny was examined from gestational day 18 to 24 weeks of age, and response to antigenic stimulus was measured during adulthood. Fetal growth of thymus and spleen was retarded when the mother was depleted throughout gestation, often to a greater degree than was body weight. Differences in organ weights between depleted and control rats at birth increased during the first 3 days postpartum, although females in both groups received the control diet after delivery. Speed of recovery of the retarded organs depended upon the timing and duration of protein restriction. Effects of the maternal deficiency during gestation or lactation were reversible to the extent that at 24 weeks of age organ weights per unit body weight were not different from those of controls. Immune response of the progeny after they had been fed an adequate diet was not impaired as a result of the maternal protein deficiency.

Manuscript received 17 December 1968.

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