Retardation of the age-associated decline of immune functions in aging rats under dietary restriction and daily physical exercise

Wistar rats were subjected to dietary restriction and daily physical exercise for 21 months, starting from 2 months of age. At the age of 23 months, the rats were sacrificed and examined for various indices including immunological functions. Body weight was almost the same between rats fed ad libitum (Group A) and those (Group B) fed 80% of the diet consumed by Group A. The body weights of Groups A and B were significantly heavier than that of rats (Group C) fed 60% of the diet consumed by Group A and those (Group D) which were subjected to physical exercise and fed 80% of the diet consumed by Group A. Highly proliferative response of T cells to mitogens was observed in 5 out of 13 rats in group D. Some enhancement of B cell proliferation was also observed in the same rats. Present results suggested that enduring physical exercise together with dietary restriction can retard the age-related decrement of immunological functions.