showed greatest deficits in the older exposed age groups.
The results of the immunodiffusion studies are shown in Table 2
and in Fig. 4.
Parallel to the increase in serum gamma globulin levels,
the immunoglobulins showed increasing values in the older age groups of
the unexposed people.
The increase in IgG moiety was most pronounced
and showed significant correlation with age (r=0.78).
‘The increase in
the other immunoglobulins did not show a high correlation with age.
The
increase in the K light chains was highly ¢orrelated with age (r=0.96).
_ Higher K/L ratios were noted in the older people though there was no
Significant correlation with age (r=0.46).
In the exposed population
all of the immunoglobulins were depressed below levels of the unexposed
group, the most pronounced depression was in the IgG and IgA moieties and
in the L light chains.
.
DISCUSSION
|
.
:
'
Though the role of immune mechanisms in the aging process has never —
been clearly defined, it is generally agreed that such mechanisms are
impaired in senescence.
Ram(1967) in an excellent review of the subject
pointed out that "i .....it is well established that the capacity for immune
.
responses increases during neonatal and juvenile life to a maximum in the
young and adult animal, it remains constant for a time and then gradually
decreases as the animal ages."
The results of the present studies in the
Marshallese people seem generally to support this thesis.
-
Before discussingthe results of these studies, a few pertinent remarks
should be made concerning the Marshallese people under study.
This population
is in many Ways not comparable with a population in the United States in view
of certain environmental and racial differences.
t
‘'
t‘
4
'
As is generally true