Effect of feed restriction on the peripheral blood and bone marrow cell counts of Wistar rats

The effects of 33% and 66% restricted feeding on body and organ weights, and hematological and bone marrow cellular findings in rats were investigated. The body weight gains were suppressed by restriction of feed amount and the body weights of 66% restricted-feeding groups were almost unchanged for three months (110 g in males and 80 g in females). Marked organ weight reduction (both absolute and relative) was found in the liver and thymus of rats of both sexes. Neutrophils and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were reduced. Reticulocytes in the 66% restricted groups were decreased to 1/4 of the control values at one month, but recovered slightly thereafter. Nucleated cell counts in bone marrow in the 66% restricted groups were decreased to 1/3 of the control values after three months. Thus, the most important effect of feed restriction seemed to be on bone marrow cells rather than on peripheral blood cells except for the reticulocytes. There was no significant difference between males and females.