[Effect of n-3 PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids on the thymus of rats with severe protein depletion].

Severe protein deprivation at weaning provokes an arrest of cellular proliferation and maturation, and an increase of ADA and PNP activities in the thymus of growing rats. A 20% casein diet fed during 9 days was enough to reverse the effect on ADA and PNP. The supplementation with 24 mg/d of n-3 PUFA, was able to recover thymus' cellular proliferation and maturation.