OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess if neonatal malnutrition impairs cell recruitment to the lungs and the oxidant-antioxidant activity of alveolar macrophages in adult endotoxemic rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n=48) were divided into two groups and suckled by dams fed experimental diets containing a normal protein content of 23% (nourished group) and a low protein content of 8% (undernourished group) during lactation. After weaning, all animals received a normal protein diet. Between 90 and 120 days, half of each group was submitted to endotoxemia by intraperitoneal administration of 1mg/kg of body weight of lipopolysaccharide. Blood was collected 24 hours after this procedure for total and differential leukocyte count and measurement of nitric oxide. Bronchoalveolar lavage was also done to determine total and differential leukocyte count and measure superoxide, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in the macrophages isolated from this lavage. RESULTS: Malnourished animals remained underweight until adulthood. Furthermore, the following also decreased: total blood leukocyte count, number of neutrophils after lipopolysaccharide administration and production of superoxide, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase before and after induced endotoxemia. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neonatal malnutrition, even after nutritional recovery, compromises cell recruitment to lungs and the oxidant-antioxidant activity of alveolar macrophages of adult rats. Endotoxemia contributes to evidence these sequelae to the host response before this model of malnutrition.
Malnutrition; Endotoxemia; Leukocyte rolling; Superoxides; Reactive nitrogen species; Superoxide dismutase
