Decreased percentages of the peripheral blood T-cell subsets and the serum IL-2 contents in chickens fed on diets excess in fluorine

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Dec;132(1-3):122-8. doi: 10.1007/s12011-009-8373-2.

Abstract

Three hundred 1-day-old Avian broilers were divided into four groups and fed on control diet (F 23 ppm) and high-fluorine diets (400 ppm, high-fluorine group I; 800 ppm, high-fluorine group II; 1,200 ppm, high-fluorine group III) for 42 days (n=75/group). The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were decreased in three high-fluorine groups when compared with those of control group. Meanwhile, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were lower in high-fluorine group II at 28 days of age and in high-fluorine group III at 42 days of age than in control group. Also, the serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents were decreased in three high-fluorine groups when compared with those of control group. Histopathologically, the thymus became hypocellular in three high-fluorine groups. It was concluded that dietary fluorine excess (400~1,200 ppm) reduced the percentages of T-lymphocyte subsets and the serum IL-2 contents, and cellular immune function could be affected in chickens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Chickens
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorine / administration & dosage
  • Fluorine / adverse effects*
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
  • Interleukin-2 / blood*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects*

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Fluorine