title: Humoral immune response of mice injected with tocopherol after exposure to X-radiation.
abstract: Serum haemagglutination (HA) titers have been determined for irradiated and non-irradiated mice responding to injection of two different concentrations of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) 24 to 48 hours after irradiation and immediate intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg DL alpha-tocopherol, the emulsifying vehicle, or saline. Mice maintained on tocopherol-deficient diets for 8 weeks post-weaning and those on regular diets exhibited increased IgG titers during peak response when injected with vitamin E. This partially alleviated the radiation-depression of the primary immune response induced by the smaller SRBC injection. This stimulatory effect was most significant in mice maintained on vitamin E-deficient diets. The HA titers of irradiated and non-irradiated mice maintained on normal rations were determined following a 10-fold increase in the SRBC inoculation. Antibody titer was greater following injection of the higher concentration of SRBC but post-irradiation injection of tocopherol immediately or 24 hours after irradiation did not enhance immune response. At the higher SRBC concentration maximum observed HA titers decreased with increasing dose of radiation; however, tocopherol had no significant dose-reducing effect. Tocopherol toxicity as manifested by depressed HA titers was observed occasionally in non-irradiated mice challenged with the higher concentration of SRBC.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014810:Vitamin E