Effect of Feeding Probiotics on Rats' Immunity and Health Conditions during Pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is associated with down regulating cell-mediated immunity (T-Lymphocyte) which would lead for increasing susceptibility to viral and bacterial infection, therefore it is expected that feeding probiotic bacteria would help in strengthening pregnant immunity. To test the effect of probiotics feeding on immunity during pregnancy, rats were fed on four different diets, a basal diet (the control) or basal diet fortified with different probiotics which were yogurt (Streptococcus thermophilus EMCC 1043 and Lactobacillus delbruckii subsp bulgaricus EMCC 1102) (G1), yogurt plus Bifidobacterium breve (G2), and yogurt plus Bifidobacterium breve plus Lactobacillus paracasei (G3). Feeding started before mating, during gestation and after parturition. Probiotics particularly (G2) and (G3) improved signifi-cantly rats' body weight gain over the control during gestation and after parturition and their off-spring. G2 and G3 significantly lowered total serum cholesterol than the control. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-fraction decreased insignificantly during gestation but the difference was significant after parturition. Probiotic feeding enhanced leukocyte production which was differentiated more into lymphocytes than phagocytes particularly on third week of gestation and after parturition. CD4+ counts in the control rats suffered a decrease on pregnancy and the decrease continued during gestation period and after parturition. On the other hand, probiotic feeding helped CD4 to overcome the decrease occurred on pregnancy to give counts on the third week and after parturition higher than before pregnancy. CD8+ counts were also increased with probiotics feeding as compared to the control which suffered continuous decrease during pregnancy. Therefore, probiotics feeding improved pregnant rats' general health, lipid profile and both sides of immunity.