title: Effect of cocaine on the immune response and host resistance in BALB/c mice.
abstract: This study focuses on the effect of varying regimens of cocaine administration on three parameters of the immune response: antibody production, resistance to infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae following immunization, and resistance to tumors. The effect of cocaine on antibody production of female and male BALB/c mice was investigated to both a T-independent (pneumococcal polysaccharide type III [SSS-III]) and a T-dependent antigen (the 2,4-dinitrophenyl ligand [DNP]). It was found that high doses of cocaine injected 3 times/day prior to SSS-III resulted in a small rise in antibody levels in male mice. Low doses given for 4 days prior to or subsequent to SSS-III injection had no effect on the antibody response nor on the susceptibility to infection by live S. pneumoniae. High dosages of cocaine administered 3-5 times/day had no effect on the anti-DNP immune response of male mice but resulted in an almost 2-fold increase of anti-DNP plaque-forming cells in female mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D003042:Cocaine