Synergistic effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZDY114 and bovine colostrums on the immunological function of mouse in vivo and in vitro.

The synergistic effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and bovine colostrums on the immunity of mice in vivo and in vitro were investigated. Eight- to ten-week-old mice were used for two series experiments; one part of mice were immunocompromised by intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide. In series I, immunocompromised mice were continuously fed with diet A (L. rhamnosus ZDY114 5 x 10(7) CFU/kg), B (bovine colostrums 0.5 g/kg), C (combination of diet A and B), and D (sterile saline) for 4 weeks and killed. Thereof, phagocytosis ratio and index of macrophage to chicken red blood cells in abdominal cavity and lymphocyte transformation rate were determined. In series II, both normal and immunocompromised mice were used to investigate the in vitro stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation by substances from the overnight culture of L. rhamnosus ZDY114 by the MTT colorimetric method. Compared with diet D, in the diet A, B, and C groups, the phagocytosis ratio of macrophages increased by 1.63, 1.54, and 2.3-fold, respectively, and the lymphocyte transformation ratio by 1.78, 2.08, and 2.35-fold, respectively. In vitro test with MTT showed that 3, 10, 50 kD substances from the overnight culture of L. rhamnosus ZDY114 significantly increased the growth of lymphocyte by 1.63, 1.53, and 1.34-fold, respectively. In conclusion, L. rhamnosus and bovine colostrums can enhance the functions of immune system supported by lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages either in vivo or in vitro.