南極越冬中の免疫能および常在細菌巣の変化

抄録

The effects of bioisolation on leucocyte counts, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and normal microbial flora were studied at two Japanese Antarctic Survey bases, Syowa Station and Mizuho Camp, during 17th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from 1975 to 1977.
Thirteen wintering members were divided into two groups; one was composed of six men who wintered at Syowa Station (Syowa group) and the other was composed of seven men at Mizuho Camp (Mizuho group) . The following results were obtained;
1. Microbiological observation revealed the facts that the drinking water of Syowa Station was highly polluted but that of Mizuho Camp was relatively sterile.
2. In Syowa group, total aerobic microorganisms, especially bacillus spp., in feces were increased significantly in number during early period of wintering, while in Mizuho group, those were decreased significantly after wintering. Pharyngeal microbial flora did not change significantly.
3. In Syowa group, leucocyte counts and serum immunoglobulin concentrations of Ig G and Ig A were increased significantly during early period of wintering. In Mizuho group, leucocyte counts did not change significantly, but Ig G waa decreased significantly after wintering.
Above results suggest that 1) the changes of microbiological environment alter the composition of normal human microbial flora, 2) those altered microbial flora, especially aerobic microorganisms, can change the host's immunological status, and 3) the changes of leucocyte counts and immunoglobulin concentrations may be resulted from altered intestinal microbial flora.