Abstract: This study was conducted to ascertain the effect of maternal dietary lutein on immune function in newborn
mice. For this purpose, we measured changes in body weight in pregnant mice within 14 days before delivery, their daily
feed intake between 14 days before and after delivery and body weight in their offsprings within 14 days after birth, and
the concentrations of IgA and IgG in serum, stomach contents and feces of 7-day-old and 14-day-old neonates. The results
showed that there were no significant differences in maternal body weight and daily feed intake and body weight in neonates
within 6 days after birth between the experimental and control groups (P > 0.05). But body weight in neonates from the
experiment group between 7 and 14 days after birth was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In
contrast to the control group, IgG concentration in serum and stomach contents of 7-day-old and 14-day-old neonates in
the experiment group increased markedly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in IgG concentration
in feces (P > 0.05). IgA concentration in stomach contents of 7-day-old and 14-day-old neonates in the experiment group
was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). While IgA concentrations in serum and feces showed an
increasing trend, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control group (P > 0.05). These findings
lead to the conclusion that maternal lutein supplementation can enhance immune function in newborn mice.

Key words: pregnant mouse, lutein, neonate, immunity