title: The effect of 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole on lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of the rat.
abstract: A constituent of Ammonia Caramel, 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI), is known to cause a reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes when fed to rats. In the present study the effect of giving THI 1 mg/kg by gavage daily for 7 days on the numbers of lymphocytes in subsets has been monitored in peripheral blood. Both immunoglobulin light chain-bearing B-cells (MARK-1+) and CD5 marker-bearing T-cells (OX-19+) were reduced in number within 1 day of treatment. Within the pan-T-cell population, Class II MHC reactive helper T-lymphocytes (W3/25-) were more reduced than the Class I MHC reactive cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (OX-8+). The number of null cells (MARK-1-, OX-19-) was not affected; the majority of these cells appeared to be large granular lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: D.H.S.S. Department of Toxicology, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, U.K.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gobin
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Legg
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Paine
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002182:Candy; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000187:drug effects; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D005505:Food Coloring Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C569050:caramel coloring; C049929:2-acetyl-4(5)-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole