Inhibitory Effects of Retinyl Palmitate and β-Carotene on Undernutrition and Immunosuppression in Rats Produced by 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) Administration

Abstract

Undernourished and immunosuppressive state was produced by administration of 15-25 mg/kg of 5-Fu, an anticancer drug, seven times every other day, in SD rats. After the administration, decrease in leukocytes, weight gain and the food efficiency ratio (FER), in addition to suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), were markedly documented. Such impaired states with 20 mg/kg 5-Fu administration were predominant as compared with those in the rats of pair fed group without of 5-Fu. In the rats, who took the diet with either 15 or 40 ppm of retinyl palmitate or β-carotene, restoration of impaired weight gain, FER and DTH was observed, while no effects was documented on leukocyte numbers.