IMMUNE-RESPONSES OF RATS CHRONICALLY FED SUB-CLINICAL DOSES OF LEAD

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (1) , 189-194
Abstract
The effects of chronic feeding of low levels of Pb on various cells of the rat immune system were investigated. In the presence of Con [concanavalin] A and PHA [phytohemagglutinin], Pb appears to increase blastogenesis up to approximately 5 wk with activity approaching that of the unleaded control cells at 14 wk. B cells responded with increased mitogenicity in the presence of LPS [lipopolysaccharide] up to the time of termination of the experiment (14 wk). Macrophage activity and number in the Pb-fed rat showed consistent decrease and eventual morphological impairment. Pb may have mitogen-like activity, but disruption of macrophage-T cell interaction may occur with time.