[Changes in the suppressive activity of splenic lymphocytes of mice induced in vitro by sodium periodate during magnesium deficiency].

Male DBA/2 Mice were kept on a magnesium deficient diet or a control diet. The antibody response of spleen cells, after in vitro immunization with Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was determined comparatively in the two groups of Mice, from the 19th to the 22nd day of the diet. The effect of sodium periodate treatment on the induction of in vitro antibody suppressor cells was also studies. This treatment activated suppressor cells towards anti-SRBC response in the control group, but not in the Mg-deficient group (P less than 0.002). A greater sensitivity of periodate induced T suppressor cells to Mg deficiency is suggested by the present results.