Effect of beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, or lutein on lymphocyte proliferation (in vitro) of newly hatched chicks.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, and lutein on lymphocyte proliferation (in vitro) of newly hatched chicks. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as the vehicle to introduce carotenoids in the culture media. So, we also determined effect of THF on viability of cells. The viabilities of fibroblast cells at 10(-3) dilution were 98% and 96% after 24 and 48 hr of incubation. Therefore, 10(-3) (v/v) THF dilution was decided upon as the vehicle to introduce carotenoids in culture media. Chick bursal lymphocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, or lutein and stimulated with phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate. The results of this experiment suggested that THF rather than the carotenoids stimulated bursal lymphocyte proliferation. The mechanism by which THF acted as a mitogen is not known. We conclude from this study that beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, and lutein are not effective in enhancing in vitro bursal lymphocyte proliferation at concentrations of less than 10(-6) M in the presence of THF.