Transgenerational Effect of Neonatal Vitamin A or D Treatment (Hormonal Imprinting) on the Hormone Content of Rat Immune Cells

Abstract

Male offspring of neonatally vitamin A or D treated (hormonally imprinted) rat dams were studied for hormone (adrenocorticotrophine [ACTH], β-endorphin, histamine, triiodothyronine [T₃]) content in immune cells, by using immunocytochemical methods for flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. ACTH and T₃ were almost doubled in the lymphocytes of vitamin A treated mothers’ offspring, while histamine decreased to a one-third in the histamine content of vitamin D treated mothers’ offspring. Part of the animals received vitamin treatment again 24 hours before measurement, however, only endorphin content elevated moderately. In the offspring of untreated dams administered with vitamin D 24 hours before measurement, each cell type studied (lymphocyte, monocyte-granulocyte group, mast cell) had a one-third lower T₃ content, which shows that vitamin D treatment can influence hormone content of immune cells. The experiments call attention to the transgenerational effect of perinatal treatment with lipid-soluble, intracellular receptor-bound vitamins.

Key words

perinatal effect - imprinting - inheritance - ACTH - triiodothyronine - histamine - vitamins - white blood cells

References

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