Humoral and cell-mediated immunity in vitamin A-deficient lambs

Antigen-specific and polyclonal serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were measured in control (Con), vitamin A-deficient (A-def), and vitamin A-repleted (A-rep) lambs. In Trial, I ewe lambs were injected with primary and secondary antigenic challenges of ovalbumin (1mg) and lysozyme (.1mg). The A-def lambs were then repleted with vitamin A and all lambs were injected with primary and secondary antigenic challenges of human gamma globulin (HGG) (.1mg). In Trial II Con and A-def wether lambs were given primary and secondary antigenic challenges of ovalbumin (20μg). Half of the A-def lambs were then repleted with vitamin A. All lambs were subsequently given a primary and secondary challenge of HGG (20 μg). Spleen wt were similar for all treatments in Trial I while A-def V lambs in Trial II had greater spleen wt (P<.01) than Con or A-rep lambs. Polyclonal serum IgG concentrations were unaffected by treatment in Trial I while in Trial II concentrations were greater (P<.05) in the A-def lambs during the HGG challenge period. Antigen-specific IgG concentrations in both trials tended to be greater in the Con lambs towards the end of both the ovalbumin (Trial I and II) and lysozyme (Trial I) challenge periods. Control and A-rep lambs in Trial I responded similarly to the HGG challenges. In Trial II both the A-def and A-rep lambs had lower (P<.10) HGG specific serum IgG concentrations on the last 3 wk of the HGG challenge period as compared to A-def lambs. Humoral immune function appears to be impaired in A-def lambs and a 2-wk repletion period was not sufficient in this study to restore humoral immune function to normal levels.