Food quality is one of the most important factors influencing animals’ immunity. In the present study, Siberian hamsters ( Phodopus sungorus ) were used to understand the effect of feeding purple cabbage on body condition and cellular immunity. Male hamsters were randomly assigned to the normal food group (NF, n = 10), normal food plus purple cabbage group (NF + PC, n = 10), and purple cabbage group (PC, n = 10), respectively. The treatment period lasted for 28 days. We found that body mass in the PC group was lower than in the other two groups after 7 days of treatment. The masses of wet carcass, subcutaneous fat, retroperitoneal fat, mesenteric fat, perigonadal fat, and total body fat were the lowest in the PC group among the three groups, while these parameters did not differ between the NF and NF + PC groups. No differences were observed in the wet masses of the thymus and spleen among the three groups. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response, indicative of cellular immunity after 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h of PHA injection, did not differ among the NF, NF + PC, and PC groups, indicating that feeding purple cabbage had no effect on cellular immunity. In summary, feeding purple cabbage decreased body mass and different parts of body fat, but did not influence cellular immunity.
Owens, I.P.F. and Wilson, K. (1999) Immunocompetence: A Neglected Life History Trait or Conspicuous Red Herring? Trends in Ecology & Evolution , 14, 170-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-5347(98)01580-8
Nelson, R.J. and Demas, G.E. (1996) Seasonal Changes in Immune Function. T he Quarterly Review of Biology , 71, 511-548. https://doi.org/10.1086/419555
Nelson, R.J. (2004) Seasonal Immune Function and Sickness Responses. Trends in Immunology , 25, 187-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2004.02.001
Xu, D.L. and Hu, X.K. (2020) Season and Sex Have Different Effects on Hematology and Cytokines in Striped Hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis ). Journal of Comparative Physiology - Biochemical Systems and Environmental Physiology , 190, 87-100.
Xu, D.L., Hu, X.K., Tian, Y.F. and Wang, D.H. (2021) Seasonal Variations in Immune Function in Female Striped Hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis ). Acta Theriologica Sinica , 41, 182-192.
Bilbo, S.D. and Nelson, R.J. (2004) Photoperiod Influences the Effects of Exercise and Food Restriction on an Antigen-Specific Immune Response in Siberian Hamsters. Endocrinology , 145, 556-564. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-1035
Xu, D.L. and Hu, X.K. (2022) Effect of Natural Seasonal Changes in Photoperiod and Temperature on Immune Function in Striped Hamsters. Zoological Science , 39, 352-364. https://doi.org/10.2108/zs220005
Xu, D.L. and Hu, X.K. (2017) Photoperiod and Temperature Differently Affect Immune Function in Striped Hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis ). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A : Molecular & Integrative Physiology , 204, 211-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.12.009
Xu, D.L. and Wang, Y.H. (2023) Effect of Gradual Increase and Decrease in Temperature on Innate, Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Striped Hamsters. Mammalian Biology , 103, 265-276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-023-00351-w
Xu, D.L. and Wang, D.H. (2010) Fasting Suppresses T Cell-Mediated Immunity in Female Mongolian Gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus ). Comparative Biochemistry an d Physiology Part A : Molecular & Integrative Physiology , 155, 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.09.003
Kaminogawa, S. and Nanno, M. (2004) Modulation of Immune Functions by Foods. Evidence - Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine , 1, 241-250. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh042
Calder, P.C. and Kew, S. (2002) The Immune System: A Target for Functional Foods? British Journal of Nutrition , 88, S165-S176. https://doi.org/10.1079/bjn2002682
Berger, J. (2013) Influence of Food Restriction on Mammalian Immunity. Journal of Applied Biomedicine , 11, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10136-012-0029-4
Bellocq, J.G., Krasnov, B.R., Khokhlova, I.S. and Pinshow, B. (2006) Temporal Dynamics of a T-Cell Mediated Immune Response in Desert Rodents. Comparative Bioc hemistry and Physiology Part A : Molecular & Integrative Physiology , 145, 554-559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.08.045
Smith, K.G. and Hunt, J.L. (2004) On the Use of Spleen Mass as a Measure of Avian Immune System Strength. Oecologia , 138, 28-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1409-y
Ahima, R.S. and Flier, J.S. (2000) Adipose Tissue as an Endocrine Organ. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism , 11, 327-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1043-2760(00)00301-5
Schäffler, A., Schölmerich, J. and Salzberger, B. (2007) Adipose Tissue as an Immunological Organ: Toll-Like Receptors, C1q/TNFs and CTRPs. Trends in Immunology , 28, 393-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2007.07.003
Chen, J.F., Zhong, W.Q., Liu, W., Li, Y.L. and Wang, D.H. (2007) Effects of Dietary Protein Content on Social Behavior and Some Physiological Properties in Male Mongolian Gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus ). Acta Theriologica Sinica , 27, 234-242.
Liu, H., Zhao, M.X., Wang, Y.H., Shen, J., Chen, Z.T., et al . (2021) Effect of Feeding Carrots on Immune Function of Kunming Mice. Journal of Qufu Normal University , 47, 93-98.
Yu, Y., Zhao, M.X., Wang, Y.H., Zhang, X.Y. and Xu, D.L. (2022) Effect of Feeding Peanut on Cellular Immunity and Hematological Profiles in Non-Reproductive Female Striped Hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis ). Acta Theriologica Sinica , 42, 286-291.
Wiczkowski, W., Szawara-Nowak, D. and Topolska, J. (2013) Red Cabbage Anthocyanins: Profile, Isolation, Identification, and Antioxidant Activity. Food Research Int ernational , 51, 303-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2012.12.015
Li, H., Li, X., Wang, R., Xing, Y., Xu, Q., Shui, Y., et al . (2020) Quality of Fresh-Cut Purple Cabbage Stored at Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Cold-Chain Transportation. International Journal of Food Properties , 23, 138-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2020.1716795
Ghareaghajlou, N., Hallaj-Nezhadi, S. and Ghasempour, Z. (2021) Red Cabbage Anthocyanins: Stability, Extraction, Biological Activities and Applications in Food Systems. Food Chemistry , 365, Article ID: 130482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130482
Demas, G.E., Chefer, V., Talan, M.I. and Nelson, R.J. (1997) Metabolic Costs of Mounting an Antigen-Stimulated Immune Response in Adult and Aged C57BL/6J Mice. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory , Integrative and Comparative Physiology , 273, R1631-R1637. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.1997.273.5.r1631
Moret, Y. and Schmid-Hempel, P. (2000) Survival for Immunity: The Price of Immune System Activation for Bumblebee Workers. Science , 290, 1166-1168. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.290.5494.1166
Demas, G.E. (2004) The Energetics of Immunity: A Neuroendocrine Link between Energy Balance and Immune Function. Hormones and Behavior , 45, 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2003.11.002
Houston, A.I., McNamara, J.M., Barta, Z. and Klasing, K.C. (2007) The Effect of Energy Reserves and Food Availability on Optimal Immune Defence. Proceedings of the Royal Society B : Biological Sciences , 274, 2835-2842. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.0934
Demas, G.E., Drazen, D.L. and Nelson, R.J. (2003) Reductions in Total Body Fat Decrease Humoral Immunity. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London , Series B : Biological Sciences , 270, 905-911. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2003.2341
Lord, G.M., Matarese, G., Howard, J.K., Baker, R.J., Bloom, S.R. and Lechler, R.I. (1998) Leptin Modulates the T-Cell Immune Response and Reverses Starvation-Induced Immunosuppression. Nature , 394, 897-901. https://doi.org/10.1038/29795