title: [Impact of PBDE-209 exposure during pregnancy and lactation on immune function of offspring rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential hazard of environmental deca-brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209) exposure to the immune function of the offspring rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The parental Wistar rats were exposed to PBDE-209 administered intragastrically during pregnancy and lactation, and the development of the immune organs and changes in T lymphocyte subset and their proliferation, NK cell surface markers CD161 and serum immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in the weight of the immune organs were noted between the exposure group and control group. In the exposure group, the percentage of T lymphocyte subset CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)CD8(+), the percentage of NK cell surface markers CD16 1 and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were lowered, while the percentage of CD4(-)CD8(-) cells increased. T lymphocyte subset proliferation in the exposure group did not show obviously changes, but compared with the control group, the IgM level in the exposure group was significantly lowered. No significant differences were observed in IgG levels between the exposure and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous exposure to high-dose PBDE-209 in female rats during pregnancy and lactation results in possible adverse effect on the immune function of the offspring rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. ice.zj001@163.com
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dun-jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qin-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yan-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000633:toxicity; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether