Immunological studies in mice following in utero exposure to NiCl2.
The effect that NiCl2 has on the development of immune function in mice was examined in the offspring of dams implanted with mini-osmotic pumps during pregnancy. Time bred C57BL/6J mice were implanted subcutaneously on day 5 of gestation with mini pumps which delivered a total dose of from 9.1 to 73.2 micrograms/g NiCl2. The pumps delivered NiCl2 to the dams through day 19 of gestation. At 8 -- 10 weeks of age the offspring of NiCl2-dosed dams were evaluated for immune function. No consistent significant alterations were observed between control and treated offspring for the following: lymphoid organ or body weights; the lymphoproliferative response to B or T lymphocyte mitogens; the lymphoproliferative response to allogeneic spleen cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction; the development of syngeneic tumors; or the primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was reduced in offspring exposed to NiCl2 in utero; however, the biological relevance of these reductions is questionable because of the failure to demonstrate an increased susceptibility to the B16-F10 syngeneic tumor. The results indicate that under the conditions and doses employed it appears that NiCl2. does not adversely affect the developing immune system of the mouse.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D009532:Nickel / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D008934:Mitogens; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel