Immunotoxicological evaluation of toluene exposure via drinking water in mice
- Utah State Univ., Logan (USA)
Toluene is a known contaminant found in trace amounts in groundwater. Male CD-1 mice were exposed to 0, 17, 80, and 405 mg/liter toluene in drinking water for 4 weeks. Immune function assays were selected to evaluate specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity, interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity, hematology, along with general toxicity. Toluene produced an increase in liver weight and decrease in thymus mass at the highest dose. No effects on body weights and hematological parameters, including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and their differentials were noticed. Mitogenesis by lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A, and phytohemagglutinin were suppressed in splenocytes from treated mice. Splenocyte lymphoproliferation to alloantigens decreased at the 405 mg/liter concentration only. Numbers of sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-specific plaque-forming cells decreased in the highest dosed animals; however, no significant change was observed in the serum {alpha}-SRBC antibody level. Toluene also adversely affected IL-2 synthesis at the 405 mg/liter concentration. Findings suggest that alteration of immune functions of mice ingesting toluene was generally evident at relatively high doses, except for splenic lymphocyte responses to selected mitogens.
- OSTI ID:
- 7149894
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Research; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (USA) Vol. 49:1; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effect of various dietary fats on antibody production and lymphocyte proliferation n chickens
Immunotoxicology of chrysotile asbestos
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRINKING WATER
GLANDS
GROWTH FACTORS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMMUNITY
INGESTION
INTAKE
LEUKOCYTES
LIVER
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
LYMPHOKINES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
MITOGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMUS
TOLUENE
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WEIGHT