[Experimental effect of the polysaccharide mannan on lymph and blood serum biochemical indices]

The effect of mannan, a polysaccharide of the microbial origin on the content of protein fractions, total protein, glucose, cholesterol (total, free and bound), urea, urea nitrogen and residual nitrogen in the lymph and serum of blood was studied on rabbits. Mannan was administered intramuscularly in the form of a 0.06 per cent solution in single doses of 0.06-6 mg/kg and repeatedly in doses of 0.60-3 mg/kg for 3-49 days. The lymph specimens were collected from the thoracic duct 1 and 24 hours after mannan administration. The study showed that in any dose administered once mannan induced an increase in the content of upsilon-globulin in the lymph and no increase in the blood serum, characterized by changes in the ratio of the other protein fractions. No other changes in the biochemical indices of the blood lymph and serum in the experimental animals were noted. When used repeatedly mannan had no effect on the content of protein fractions in the blood lymph and serum. the study on changes in the biochemical indices of the lymph provided additional data on the character of the mannan effect in the host.