DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF BONE-MARROW PROTEIN ON BRAIN ATPASE OF IMMUNIZED CONTROL AND MALNOURISHED RATS

After sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) immunization in balanced-diet-fed (BDF) rats, the brain microsomal ATPase activity for the first 48 h was sup pressed compared with preimmunization level, then stimulated at the pe ak of the immune response. In contrast, rats malnourished by deprivati on of vitamin B complex and ascorbic acid and with significantly lower pre- and postimmunization enzyme activity than the BDF rats, had stim ulated enzyme activity only on immunization, and their immune response was found to be suppressed. A bone marrow-derived bioimmunomodulator (BIM) revived the immunocompetence of the malnourished immunized anima ls, and brain ATPase activity in these animals after BIM injection fol lowed a pattern similar to that of the immunized BDF rats. We suggest that, after SRBC immunization under the influence of BIM, suppression followed by stimulation of the brain microsomal ATPase might be relate d to immune response.