ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF NUTRITIONAL DEPRIVATION ON TRANSPLANTED HEMATOPOIETIC-CELLS

Abstract

The effect of food deprivation was studied on the hematopoietic reconstitution of B6D2F1 mice given 900 rad total body irradiation followed by 2 .times. 105 syngeneic bone marrow cells. Animals deprived of food from the day of cell transfer to the day of sacrifice were compared to control animals allowed ad lib laboratory chow. The body weight of food deprived mice decreased by 36% on day 7 as compared to a 9% decrease in fed controls. The mean number of nucleated cells/femur on day 7 was 22% of that found in fed controls. The spleen weight in the experimental animals was 48% of that in the controls. Food deprived animals showed complete suppression of macroscopic hematopoietic spleen colony formation. Marrow and spleen from the primary recipients when studied for content of CFU [colony forming unit] in secondary ad lib fed recipients showed that food deprived animals had < 25% of the number seen in controls. A 3rd group of animals receiving vitamin supplements and small amounts of dextrose (no protein) showed hematopoietic suppression similar to that seen in the totally food deprived mice.