Abstract
The effect of protein deficiency on lymphoid and other organs in CF #1 mice of both sexes was studied histologically and cytochemically. The effect of refeeding a regular diet after feeding a protein-free diet, and the effect of starvation on the lymphoid organs, were also investigated.
The mice were initially fed a protein-free diet and a regular diet (25% casein)at 21 days of age. The weight and number of nucleated cells in the lymphoid organs were significantly lower in the protein-deficient mice than in the controls. This damage to the lymphoid organs was not a permanent one and could be remedied after an adequate period on the regular diet.
The content of naphthol yellow S-total protein in the small lymphocytes of the thymus and the lymph nodes of the protein-deficient mice was very similar to that of the controls. The contents of Feulgen-DNA and fast green histone in the lymph node lymphocytes of the protein-deficient mice were almost the same as those in the control mice.
The weights of the adrenals and gonads in the protein-deficient mice and starved mice were large, if expressed as weight per body weight, but no definite histological changes were observed. Thus, lymphoid hypoplasia may be related to the presence of intact adrenals and gonads in protein-deficient mice.
