Antibody formation in first and second generation offspring of nutritionally deprived rats.

Prolonged partial restriction of calorie intake in young rats results in reduced growth, involution of lymphoid organs, and lymphopenia. After immunization with sheep red blood cells, the number of antibody-forming cells in the spleen and serum hemolysin titers are markedly reduced. The effect is more pronounced on the primary response and on immunoglobulin G antibody-forming cells. Significant impairment of antibody formation is detectable in the first (F1) and second (F2) generation offspring of starved Fo mothers.