Effect of iron deficiency on the mitogen-induced proliferative response of rat lymphocytes

To delineate the alterations of the immune function induced by iron deficiency male Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained at 3 weeks of age and fed an iron-deficient diet. By the end of the 3rd week on this diet the animals were anemic and ferropenic. A marked increase in the proliferative response of splenic lymphocytes at optimal doses of mitogen (PHA, Con A, and PWM) was observed. On the contrary, thymic lymphocytes showed a decreased proliferative response. Time-course experiments demonstrated significant alterations in these proliferative responses after only 1 week of iron deprivation, at a time when the level of hemoglobin was normal. Nutritional rehabilitation after 5 weeks of iron deprivation showed complete recovery of the response after 11/2 weeks on normal diet.