Spleen and thymus histology and proliferative response of splenic cells in rats fed raw and cooked Phaseolus vulgaris beans
Toro, F.; Benshimol, A.L.; González Elorriaga, M.; Soyano, A.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 42(4): 395-402
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 1342176 Document Number: 404331
From 3 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats in groups of 6 when given a diet with 10% protein supplied by casein or raw or cooked black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) without or with a supplement of 0.3% methionine. Intake of those given casein and cooked beans was restricted to the amount eaten by rats given raw beans. Spleen and thymus were removed from rats killed at weekly intervals for up to 28 days and sections were studied by light microscope. Both organs from rats given raw beans were atrophied. Decrease in relative thymus weight was more marked. All histological organization of the thymus seemed altered. Cell number was decreased in both organs. Proliferative response of spleen cells stimulated with concanavalin A in vitro was increased compared with that of cells from rats given the control diet. It is concluded that histological changes in spleen and thymus were mainly due to protein-energy deficiency, although the possibility that toxic factors in the raw-beans had an effect on the immune system cannot be overruled.