Modulation of the Adaptive Capacity of Growing Rats through Modification of the Protein Content in the Diet

Hematological and morphological studies of the liver were carried out in a subacute experiment on rats receiving a model toxicant against the background of diets with decreasing protein content during the most important period of ontogenesis characterized by intensive growth and sexual maturation. It was found that the stimulating effect of hormesis manifested in the blood and liver under conditions of sufficient protein supply (⩾ 9% of total caloric content). Growing animals chronically exposed to protein deficiency (3-6%) were characterized by suppressed hemopoiesis and decreased size of hepatocytes; against the background of a toxic load, the suppression of hematopoiesis was even more pronounced. The toxicant had a stimulating influence on the liver even in the presence of protein deficiency, which indicates the priorities in distribution of resource under conditions of adaptation to stress.