[A study of the humoral immunity of mice injected with beryllium chloride].
We studied changes of humoral immunity, such as complement pathway activity, C3 contents and contents of immunoglobulin, in mice injected subcutaneously with BeCl2 or CuCl2 once a week for 12 weeks. Mean body weights of JCL: ICR female mice were approximately 30g in control mice (control group; n = 7), in mice injected with Be (Be group; n = 8) and in mice injected with Cu (Cu group; n = 8). Values of classical complement pathway activity (CH50) were 18.8 +/- 1.4 U per ml, 15.3 +/- 1.8 U per ml and 16.7 +/- 1.3 U per ml in the control group, Be group and Cu group, respectively. The CH50 values of Be and Cu groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.01). In contrast, values of alternative complement pathway activity (ACH50) and contents of C3 were almost constant in the three groups. The immunoglobulin content in the Be group tended to increase. The activity of alanine aminotransferase in the Be group was markedly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and the aspartate aminotransferase activity was also high. The CH50 value of mice injected with a small amount of Be once a week over a 12-week period decreased markedly, although either the ACH50 value or C3 content was the same as in the control group. The immunoglobulin content somewhat increased in the Be group. These results suggest the possibility that immune complex is induced by Be.
Sakaguchi
S
S
Department of Hygiene, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa.
Sakaguchi
T
T
Nakamura
I
I
Kudo
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects
D003176:Complement C3; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C032776:beryllium chloride; D002802:Cholinesterases; D001608:Beryllium