Administration of yoghurt or Lactobacillus casei to malnourished mice: Comparative effect on lymphoid cells and mucosal reconditioning of the intestine

The comparative effect of the administration of viable Lactobacillus casei and yoghurt on mucosal immunity, body weight and the recovery of intestinal microvilli was studied in malnourished mice. L. casei and yoghurt induced an increase in the number of cells producing IgA and IgM, yoghurt being more effective than L. casei. In both treatments, the number of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T-lymphocytes did not reach the levels found in well-nourished mice. However yoghurt administration induced a slight increase in the number of CD8(+) cells and a significant increase in CD4(+) helper T-cells, compared with the malnourished control. Yoghurt was more effective than L. casei in improving the condition of intestinal microvilli and in the stimulation of mucus production. Yoghurt administration also induced an increase in body weight and avoided bacterial translocation of the normal intestinal microflora.