Effect of magnesium deficiency and food restriction on the immune response in young mice.

Similar batches of five-week-old C57 Bl/6 mice were given either a magnesium-deficient diet (4mg Mg/100 g), or a control diet (40 mg/100 g). Control diet intake was either ad libitum or reduced. After immunization with SRBC (sheep red blood cells), the immune response was studied by estimating the number of spleen AFC (antibody-forming cells) capable of lysing SRBC, and by a cytoadhesion test to determine the number of RFC (rosette forming cells). Limitation of the control diet slowed the growth rate in mice. Whenever food intake was reduced from 4g/day to 2.9 or 2.6g/day, the AFC response intensified but the RFC response remained similar. Food limitation might therefore mainly affect immature IgM producing cells with a high dividing rate. Magnesium deficiency produced a drastic fall in the primary and secondary immune responses, as measured by the number of spleen AFC. The number RFC was also much lower in the spleen of deficient animals. Consequently, the spleen immune system is deeply affected by this deficiency.