Restoration of impaired immunoresponse by germanium in mice.

An organogermanium was given to young and aged C3H/HeJ mice sensitized by sheep red blood cells, and plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleens from the animals were measured. PFC decreased markedly in the aged mice. The organogermanium at an appropriate dose significantly increased the PFC in the aged mice, whereas it did not increase PFC in the young mice. Thus, germanium is considered to restore to some extent the impaired immunoresponses in aged mice.