title: Immunological studies in mice following in utero exposure to NiCl2.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel