Effect of lactoferrin on some selective immunological parameters in rats immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide

Abstract

Osama Ali Abdalla, Mohamed El-Sayed El-Boshy

Eighty male albino rats (350±10 g) 10 to 12 weeks old were conducted in our study. Rats were randomly divided into four, equal groups. The groups treated as following: 1st control group (Gp. A) was given intraperitoneal normal saline (1 mL). 2nd group (Gp. B) was given a single intraperitoneal dose (250 mg/kg body weight) of Cyclophosphamide (CP) on the first day of the experimental period. 3rd group (Gp. C) CP and lactoferrin (LF) treated group. 4th group (Gp. D) administrated LF only (0.5%) in drinking water. Two separate blood samples were collected from heart puncture at end of 1st and 3rd week post treatment for hematological, biochemical and immunological studies. The leukogram of CP treatment group showed severe leucopenia (lymphopenia, neutropenia as well as eozinopenia) as well as decrease total protein and albumin blood level. Immunosuppressive effect of CP is documented in our work by decrease gamma globulin and elevation tumor necrosis factor Alfa (TNF ά). This study revealed that oral treatment with LF can partially reconstitute humoral and cellular immune response in rats given a sub-lethal dose of CP.