[In vitro lymphocyte stimulation by the pokeweed mitogen in normal subjects and undernourished patients. Influence of ornithine salts].

The influence of different concentrations of ornithine phosphate and ornithine alpha ketoglutarate on pokeweed mitogen stimulation of immunoglobulin production in vitro was tested. Lymphocyte response of normal subjects was compared with lymphocyte response of undernourished patients. Our results indicate that IgG and IgM synthesis, under usual culture conditions of PWM stimulation, can be optimized in certain normal subjects by adding low concentrations (10(-5)M/l) of ornithine in culture medium. Moreover, in this culture system, the deficit observed in undernourished patients can be partially corrected by adding physiological (close to serum) concentrations of ornithine. More data are necessary in order to find out in vivo the effect of administration of ornithine on the immune system which is influenced by many (specially hormonal) factors.