Influence of weaning-initiated dietary restriction on responses to T cell mitogens and on splenic T cell levels in a long-lived F1-hybrid mouse strain

Modification of age-related immune decline in mice dietarily restricted from or after midadulthood.

“…Mann (25) observed that PHA and Con A responses particularly, and LPS responses to a lesser degree, were increased in 22-mo-old.female CBA/J mice fed only every other day for 5 mo, compared with controls fed ad lib. In our earlier studies, we found elevated spleen cell PHA and Con A responses in 16-to 17-mo-old male (C57BL/ 14) and in mid and late adulthood (12,15). We recently compared young or middle-aged C3B10RF1 females, restricted since weaning, to age-matched control mice fed the semipurified control diet (15).…”

“…In our earlier studies, we found elevated spleen cell PHA and Con A responses in 16-to 17-mo-old male (C57BL/ 14) and in mid and late adulthood (12,15). We recently compared young or middle-aged C3B10RF1 females, restricted since weaning, to age-matched control mice fed the semipurified control diet (15). Restricted mice showed changes similar to those reported here, including reduction in numbers of spleen cells, increased percent of splenic T cells, increased splenic (but not lymph node) PHA (but not Con A) responses, and an increased percent of PHA-induced blast cells.…”

“…In the present studies, male mice ofa long-lived F1 (4)(5)(6) and is the only strategy known to slow age-related increases in mortality rates in homeotherms (7). Restriction also inhibits or delays (or both) the occurrence of many late-life diseases (8)(9)(10)(11) and retards the development of immunosenescence (12)(13)(14)(15)(16) (23) and rats (24). With regard to immunologic effects, only mouse splenocyte mitogen-induced T-cell proliferative responses (which are known to decline with age) have been looked at.…”

“…Dietary restriction imposed on rats and mice beginning at weaning (3-6 wk old) extends survival (1)(2)(3) more than any other procedure tested in rodents (4)(5)(6) and is the only strategy known to slow age-related increases in mortality rates in homeotherms (7). Restriction also inhibits or delays (or both) the occurrence of many late-life diseases (8)(9)(10)(11) and retards the development of immunosenescence (12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The most successful restriction diets limit caloric intake while apparently providing adequate quantities of other required nutrients, amounting to "undernutrition without malnutrition.…”

Augmentation of Mouse Immune Functions by Dietary Restriction: An Investigation up to 1 Year of Age

“…Weindruch et al [15] demonstrated re cently that dietary restriction augmented T cell responses to mitogens. They suggested that the enhancement of the immune re sponses were derived from the increase of the splenic T cell levels by using immunoflu orescence measurements with a micro scope.…”