Biological studies of swine exposed to 60-Hz electric fields. Volume 6. Immunology. Final report
Immunological response in three generations of miniature swine chronically exposed to a 30-kV/m, 60-Hz electric field have been assessed in a series of screening experiments. The study was designed to investigate functional aspects of the humoral and cellular components of the mammalian immune system. Circulating levels of immunoglobulins were measured in parental-generation (F/sub 0/) sows (0 to 22 months of exposure), first-generation fetuses (F/sub 1/) at 100 days of gestation, F/sub 1/ females (0 to 32 months of exposure) and second-generation (F/sub 2/) weanlings at 1.5 and 6 months of age. No consistent, statistically significant changes in the levels of serum immunoglobins were observed when exposed groups were compared with sham-exposed controls, either within or across generations. An examination of cellular immunity included measurements of the mitogen response of peripheral-blood lymphocytes (PBL), spleen cells and lymph-node cells of F/sub 0/ sows sacrificed after 100 days of pregnancy, and PBL, spleen cells and thymocytes of F/sub 1/ fetuses at 100 days of gestation. Mitogen response studies of PBL, spleen cells, thymocytes and lymph-node cells of 42-day-old F/sub 1/ male weanlings and F/sub 2/ male and female swine were also conducted. In the statistical comparisons of mitogen-response data obtained for F/sub 0/, F/sub 1/, and F/sub 2/ swine, no consistent differences were observed between exposed and matched sham-exposed control groups. These observations indicate that the distribution of cells in the various tissues studied and the responses observed were not altered as a result of exposure to the fields. 22 refs., 27 figs., 5 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6424468
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-EA-4318-Vol.6; ON: DE86005363
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTRIC FIELDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PROGENY
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
SWINE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
DATA
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
GLOBULINS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
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