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Article: Biotin Deficiency Blocks Thymocyte Maturation, Accelerates Thymus Involution, and Decreases Nose-Rump Length in Mice1
- Article from:
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Article date:
- August 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Institute of Nutrition Aug 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT
Biotin deficiency in experimental animals causes low body weight as well as several phenomena suggestive of an altered immune system. We reported previously that chronic biotin deficiency in mice decreases body weight and alters the number and proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen. To further characterize the effects of biotin deficiency, we studied in detail the maturation of thymocytes and the status of biotin in the thymus, as well as the body length of biotin-deficient mice. Male Balb/cAnN mice were fed for up to 20 wk either standard control diet, a biotin-deficient diet, or a biotin-sufficient diet. At different times, nose-rump length, weight of the thymus, ...