INCREMENT OF IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN MICE PERINATAL STAGES AFTER ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION

A model of BALB/c mice was developed to determine the effects of zinc supplements on immune responses during certain stages of ontogeny. The mice received zinc acetate in drinking water concentrations of 500 an d 1000 mg/l during the periods of gestation, lactation and postweaning . The sequence employed in this study was: (I) 0/0 (II) 500/500 (III) 1000/1000 (Iv) 0/0/0 (V) 500/500/500 and (VI) 1000/1000/1000 with thei r respective controls. No changes were observed in the general appeara nce, growth curves, hematocrit or signs of achromotrichia between trea ted and control animals. Group II and III showed a significant increas e in H-3-thymidine-determined splenic lymphoproliferation, while group s V and VI exhibited an important decrease. A significant increase in plaque - forming cell response (IgM) was observed after the period of lactation in groups IT and III as well as in groups V and VI. Zinc con centrations determined by atomic absorption in liver and thymus were s ignificantly higher in all treated mice 42 days after birth. Results s uggest that for carefully monitored periods and doses, oral zinc suppl ements might have a beneficial effect over some immune responses in th e perinatal stages.