title: A simple technique of testing for the influence of metal salts and other chemicals on macrophages and thymocytes in vito.
abstract: The spleen fragment test, originally used for estimation of factors of cell mediated immunity, was used to assess the relative toxicity of various metal salts and other chemicals on macrophages in vitro. The inhibition of macrophage migration from spleen fragments of guinea pigs was measured as a functional parameter for the toxic effects. Concentration response curves and the molar concentration that yielded a 50% inhibition of the macrophage migration (EC50) were determined. The EC50 values of the examined metal salts ranged from 1.7 X 10(-5) M for Na2SeO3 to 1.3 X 10(-2) M for MnCl2 and indicated that the relative toxicity was Na2SeO3 > K2Cr2O7 > CdCl2 > HgCl2 > NiCl2 > CrCl3 > MnCl2. Other investigations dealt with the interaction of Na2SeO3 and HgCl2 on macrophages in vitro. Corresponding to the spleen fragment test thymus fragments from mice and rats were used for the study of the influence of organotin compounds and prednisolone on the thymocyte migration in vitro.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals