Styrene Epoxide Intermediate as A Possible Stimulant of Lymphocytic Function

Abstract
Mice treated with styrene showed an increased lymphocyte transformation in splenic cell cultures. The effects were observed on spontaneous transformation and phytomitogen induced blast formation. Addition of styrene oxide directly to splenic cultures but not of styrene, increased blast formation at low concentrations but was cytotoxic at high concentrations. In this test system styrene exhibited a generalized immunostimulation. In vitro data suggested that this effect of styrene was mediated possibly through its conversion to styrene oxide, its transient metabolic intermediate.