THE EFFECTS OF OCHRATOXIN-A ON THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF SWISS MICE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (1) , 91-96
Abstract
The acute i.p. toxicity of ochratoxin A (OA) for adult female Swiss mice was presented. The 7 day LD50 was 48 .+-. 3.2 mg/kg. Daily i.p. administrations of 10 mg OA/kg resulted in 50% mortality by the 10th day of injection. Clinical symptoms included depression, huddling, roughened hair coats, humped backs and reduced weight gains. Mice injected i.p. daily for 50 days with 5 mg OA/kg had a significantly (P < 0.01) depressed antibody response to killed Brucella abortus. Oral administrations of OA at 4 ppm in feed for 50 days did not depress titer levels. Ochratoxin A also significantly (P < 0.01 i.p.; P < 0.05 oral administrations) reduced body weight gain. Oral or i.p. administration of OA for 50 days did not affect the response of mice to sheep red blood cells, although the number of antibody-forming cells and the number of cells/spleen were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) by cyclophospamide. Spleen and body weights were significantly lowered (P < 0.05) in the groups given OA. There was a significant depression of blast transformation. (P < 0.01) in mice treated i.p. with OA or cyclophosphamide and stimulated with concanavalin A; oral administration of OA did not depress blast transformation. Lower levels of exposure, 4 ppm OA in feed, did not cause depression of the immune response of mice. The depressive effect seen at higher levels may be a result of a nonselective toxic effect.