Effect of cadmium on the immune response in rats

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 31; no. 2; p. 413
• Main Authors: Wesenberg, G B, Wesenberg, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-01-1983
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies - analysis; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Cadmium - immunology; Concanavalin A - immunology; Erythrocytes - immunology; Female; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Immunization - methods; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sheep - immunology
• ISSN: 0013-9351
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-9351(83)90019-1

Adult male inbred Wistar rats were given a subtoxic dose of cadmium (25 ppm) orally for 4 weeks prior to and during immunization with sheep erythrocytes (E). The control group received tap water during the experimental period. No difference in the antibody response to E was found between the two groups. Mononuclear peripheral blood cells from experimental and control rats were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A). The experimental rats had received 25 ppm Cd in the drinking water from weaning until sacrifice at 15 weeks of age. There was no difference in [3H]thymidine incorporation between the cells of the experimental group and those of the control group. Addition of Cd at very low concentrations to the cultures significantly depressed the [3H]thymidine incorporation of the cells from both groups of rats. Thus, a subtoxic dose of Cd apparently had no effect on the in vivo immune response in rats.