Text Box: THE ROLE OF VITAMIN A IN IMMUNE FUNCTON OF CORD BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELL Yao HL, Wang WP, Guo ZP Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Objective: To determine the effect of vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy on the IgM production of cord blood mononuclear cell in vitro. Methods: 71 gravida was enrolled at their third trimester and divided into two groups.33 cases received 100,000IU vitamin A at their 7th and 8th month of pregnancy, 38 cases were studied as controls. Cord blood mononuclear cell were separated and cultured for 7 days, which were stimulated by SAC, or SAC+RA. The IgM level of upper liquid was measured by ELISA. Results: The dietary of vitamin A of pregnant women were lower than 80% RDA. Serum vitamin A level is similar between the two groups before intervention. After intervention, there is no significant difference of serum vitamin A level of cord blood between them. But vitamin A level of cord blood (1.06±0.42umol/l) is apparently lower than that of the serum of their mother (2.60±1.1umol/l). There is a significant correlation between them. In our vitro study, we found that RA (1x10-6M) can augment the IgM production of cord blood mononuclear cell induced by SAC. The enhanced amplitude is 0.8. But there is no significant difference of the enhanced amplitude between the two groups. Conclusion: It was confirmed that RA (1x10-6M) can augment the IgM production of cord blood mononuclear cell in this study. But there is no significant effect of vitamin A supplementation in the third trimester of pregnancy on vitamin A level of cord blood and the immune function of cord blood mononuclear cell. The mechanism of placenta and the way of intervention in vitamin A deficient gravida need further study 1158