The immunotoxicity of tributyltin oxide (TBTO) does not increase the susceptibility of rats to experimental respiratory infection.
1. The dietary exposure of rats to tributyltin oxide at a concentration of 150 ppm for 6 weeks is known to lead to a significant reduction in relative thymic weight. 2. To determine whether this reduction in thymic weight also leads to an impairment of function sufficient to alter the host response to micro-organisms, we have examined the development of virus- and mycoplasma-induced pneumonia in TBTO-exposed rats. 3. Using a quantitative histopathological method for measuring both the extent and duration of lung lesions in TBTO-exposed rats, no statistically significant increase in the extent or persistence of virus-induced lung lesions was found in rats exposed chronically to TBTO. 4. The susceptibility of rats to Mycoplasma pulmonis infection, alone, or in conjunction with viral pneumonia, was also not increased by dietary exposure to TBTO.
Carthew
P
P
MRC Toxicology Unit, MRC Laboratories, Carshalton, Surrey, UK.
Edwards
R E
RE
Dorman
B M
BM
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000209:etiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; C005961:bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide