Effects of Dietary Alkylglycerols in Lactating Rats on Immune Responses in Pups

Abstract

Alkylglycerols (AG) arc glyceryl ether lipids and are present in human and cow's milk and the hematopoietic organs such as bone marrow, spleen, and liver. The biologic effects of AG include stimulation of blood leukocyte and thrombocyte production and activation of macrophage and anti-tumor activity. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary AG in lactating rats on AG levels in milk and development of certain immune responses in the pups. Lactating rats were fed diets supplemented with various levels of AG. Milk samples were expressed from the dams and blood was collected from the pups on postpartum d 8, 16, and 24. Concentrations of AG in milk from the dams fed AG were significantly greater than those of the controls @ < 0.05). Peripheral blood granulocytes were significantly elevated in pups from the dams fed AG, but there were no differences in peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers. Plasma levels of immunoglobulins were significantly greater for IgG @ < 0.01) and IgM @ < 0.001) in pups from the dams fed AG than in the control pups. The supplementation of AG in the diets of lactating dams significantly elevated AG levels in the milk, and the increased AG in the milk subsequently stimulated certain immune responses in the pups. in the newborn depends on the prompt and precise integration of cellular and humoral immune responses. The fetus has been in a sterile intrauterine environment, and at birth, the neonate has not yet developed a mature immune system (8). To deal with the hostile extrauterine environment, the newborn immune system must accomplish an adequate immunocompetence. Migliore-Samour

Humoral defence improvement and haematopoiesis stimulation in sows and offspring by oral supply of shark-liver oil to mothers during gestation and lactation

“…The rise in overall and Aujeszky-specific Ig together with haematopoietic activity emphasised the dual effect of sow supplementation on both passive and active immunity in offspring. In a previous study, synthetic alkyl-Gro administrated per os to lactating rats were also incorporated in mother's milk and enhanced blood granulocyte concentration and Ig levels in blood of suckling pups (Oh & Jadhav, 1994). We show here for the first time that natural alkyl-Gro can improve the whole leucocyte population in blood as well as specific antibody concentration in offspring after immunisation of the gestating mothers.…”

“…In the field of immunity, alkyl-Gro enhance both macrophage activation (Yamamoto et al 1988) and antibody production in rodents (Ngwenya & Foster, 1991;Chorostowska-Wynimko et al 2001) and man (Brohult et al 1972). Furthermore, oral treatment by synthetic alkyl-Gro in lactating rats greatly increases total IgM and IgG in plasma of pups (Oh & Jadhav, 1994). In addition to abundance in alkyl-Gro, SLO, like other fish oils, is also rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA.…”

Specific and non‐specific immunity of piglets from sows fed diets containing specific fatty acids in field conditions

“…In addition, when sows received AKG only 5 days before farrowing, positive effect on piglets' specific and non-specific immunity was no more visible after weaning, whereas supplementation in late gestation enabled a longer effect on piglets (measured till 70 days of age). But increased immune transfer from sows to piglets is not the only explanation for the higher antibodies, SBA and THC of piglets from treated sows; Oh and Jadhav (1994) have indeed demonstrated that quantity of AKG in lactation feed of rats was directly related to the quantity of AKG measured in milk. As a consequence, better immunity of piglets can also be the result of their supplementation in AKG via their mother's milk.…”

Oral Administration of Alkylglycerols Differentially Modulates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice

“…AKGs are the major components in SLO which could stimulate immunity both in vitro and in vivo [22, 23]. Daily consumption of AKGs-rich SLO showed benefits to the immune system.…”