Effect of multiparity on T-cell proliferation response to mitogen stimulation in elderly women

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether multiparity in women prevents some age-related changes in their cell function, as is known for age and sex. 49 women from the same village, free of acute inflammatio n or neoplastic diseases, were selected and divided into the following thre e groups: nulliparous 1935 years old, nulliparous 65-92 years old and multi parous (3-9 pregnancies) 65-88 years old. The response of their blood-lymph ocytes to phytohaemagglutinin-P was estimated by thymidine uptake, number o f mitoses and number of sister-chromatid exchanges. The stimulation index, mitotic index and proliferative rate in the aging nulliparous women were si gnificantly lower than in the younger nulliparous women, but the latter gro up (young nulliparous) did not differ in their lymphocyte parameters assaye d, from the values in the aging multiparous women breast-feeding their newb orn. It is concluded that when the proliferative capacity to mitogen in eld erly multiparous women (after 3-9 pregnancies) is related to breast feeding , it is similar to the proliferative capacity in young women. We suggest th erefore, that breast feeding is beneficial not only to the newborns, but al so to their mothers. (C) 1999 International Society for Immunopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.