Influence of perinatal ochratoxin A exposure on the immune system in mice.
The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OA) is a well-documented immunotoxic agent which affects both cellular and humoral immunity. In the present study, the effects of maternal exposure to single doses of OA during gestation or lactation were studied in Balb/c offspring. A single dose exposure of the dams to OA (500 micrograms/kg body weight) on day 16 of gestation resulted in decreased proliferation of splenic and thymic lymphocytes in response to mitogens in the pups at 15 days of age. Flow cytometry analysis of thymocyte subpopulations revealed lower percentages of mature CD4+ cells and higher percentages of immature, double-positive (CD4+CD8+) cells in the exposed pups. In contrast, a single exposure of the dams of OA on day 10 postpartum significantly increased the proliferative responsiveness of lymphocytes in the offspring when stimulated with B or T cell mitogens 3 days after the exposure. This effect was most prominent in the highest dose group (500 micrograms/kg body weight). The present results are in accordance with previous observations in rats, and show that the time of exposure significantly influences the immunotoxic effects of OA on the developing immune system in rodents.
Toxicology Division, Swedish National Food Administration, Sweden.
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Thuvander
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Dahl
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Breitholtz-Emanuelsson
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D002273:Carcinogens; D009183:Mycotoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate