The Effect Of Chitosan On Immune Function In Mice

Objective: Immunity effects of chitosan were studied according to Inspection and Assessment Standard for Health Food issued by Ministry of Health People's Republic China.Method: Healthy female ICR mice were used as experimental animals. Three dose groups, low (0.23g/kg-bw), medial (0.45g/kg-bw) and high dose groups (1.35g/kg-bw), were set, while distilled water was served as control. Chitosan, with the dosage of 0.2ml/10g-bw a day, was administered using gavage method to mice continuously for 30 days. Different immunity indexes were detected, including organ relative weight, delayed type hypersensitivity allergy, lymphocyte transformation test, antibody forming cells, phagocytic rates of intraperitoneal phagocytes, and so on.Results: For organ relative weight, no significant difference existed within all groups (P>0.05). Compared with control group, the Joint Swelling (JS) of mice in low, medial and high groups respectively increased 26.1%(P>0.05), 39.1%(P<0.05) and 52.2%(P < 0.05), and the lymphocyte transformation abilities induced by ConA respectively increased 100%(P>0.05), 90%(P < 0.05) and 150%( P < 0.01). The numbers of antibody forming cells in low, medial and high groups respectively increased37. 7% ( P > 0. 05 ) ,36. 5% ( P > 0. 05 ) and 46.3%(P < 0.05), hemolysin respectively 7. 1%, 5. 4% and 15. 8% ( P> 0. 05 ) . Compared with control group, the phagocytic indexes of intraperitoneal phagocyte in low, medial and high group respectively increased 12. 4% ( P> 0. 05 ), 5. 8% ( P> 0. 05 ) and 59.8%(p < 0.01), but the clearance index of charcoal particles had no significant difference in all groups. The phagocytic rates of intraperitoneal phagocyte in low, medial and high groups respectively increased 14. 6%( P> 0. 05 ), 34.1%(P < 0.05) and 95.1%(P < 0.01), and NK cell activities were respectively increased 45. 8% ( P> 0. 05 ) , 64.5%(P < 0.01) and 81.8%(P < 0.01). The gain of body weight had significant difference between high group (group 2) and control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between other two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Chitosan has the function of immunoregulation by enhancing cell and humoral immunities in mice, and increasing macrophage's ability and NK cell activity.