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Immunotoxicological examination of repeated dose combined exposure by dimethoate and two heavy metals in rats

The immunotoxicity of 28 days combined oral exposure by dimethoate (DM) and two heavy metals (Pb or Cd) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Immunotoxic and no-effect doses of DM (28.2 and 7.04 mg/kg) were combined with immunotoxic and no-effect doses of CdCl2 (6.43 and 1.61 mg/kg) or lead acetate (80.0 and 20.0 mg/kg) in such a way that the high dose of each substance was given in combination with the no-effect dose of the other. To examine the interactions of these agents, general toxico-logical (body weight gain, organ weights), haematological (absolute and differential WBC, RBC, MCV, Ht, cell content of the femoral bone marrow), and immune function (splenic PFC number, DTH reaction) parameters were measured. Treatment with the combination of Pb or Cd and DM did not result in a reduction of humoral (PFC) and cellular (DTH) immune responses, whereas treatment with the substances alone did result in immune suppression. This protecting effect can probably be attributed to an effect on the kinetics of the compounds tested rather than on the immune system itself. Further interactions were found in both combinations, DM-Cd and DM-Pb, in the body weight gain and in the relative liver weight; the DMPb combination also affected the relative thymus weight and the MCV value. These findings show that the immunotoxic effects of the investigated materials, including their detectability and health consequences, can be modified in case of combined exposure.

Immunotoxicity study of repeated small doses of dimethoate and methylparathion administered to rats over three generations

Immunotoxic effects of chronic, equitoxic doses (1/50, 1/75, and 1/100 LD50) of two organophosphorus pesticides dimethoate (DM) and methylparathion (MPT) (14.1, 9.39, and 7.04 mg kg-1 DM; and 0.436, 0.291, and 0.218 mg kg-1 MPT) were investigated in a three generation study in out- bred Wistar rats. Treatment of the first generation (G1) with these doses began in animals 4 weeks of age; the parental males were dosed until separation of females, and after mating the females were treated until separation of their G2 offspring (at the age of 4 weeks), and the G3 generation was produced in the same way from treated parental G2 animals. Selected 4 week old males from each generation were also treated with DM and MPT for 4 weeks (experimental groups) before determination of certain conventional toxicological (body weight gain, birth weight and number, organ weights), haematological (absolute and differential WBC, RBC, Ht, MCV, nucleated cell content of femoral bone marrow), and immune func tion parameters (IgM-PFC number of spleen, DTH reac tion). Effects of both substances on immunological variables were detectable at the 1/75 LD50 dose level, but different parameters were affected in the three consecutive genera tions.

Behavioural and functional neurotoxicological changes caused by cadmium in a three-generational study in rats.

1 Three consecutive generations of Wistar rats were orally treated by gavage with 3.5, 7.0 or 14.0 mg/kg cadmium (in form of cadmium chloride diluted in distilled water) over the period of pregnancy, lactation and 8 weeks after weaning. 2 Behavioural (open field behaviour) and electrophysio logical (spontaneous and evoked cortical activity, etc.) parameters of male rats from each generation were investigated at the age of 12 weeks. 3 The main behavioural outcomes were change in vertical exploration activity (rearing) and increased exploration of an open field centre. The spontaneous and evoked electrophysiological variables showed dose- and generation-dependent changes (increased frequencies in the electrocorticogram, lengthened latency and duration of evoked potentials, etc.) signalling a change in neural functions. 4 The data show that low-level, multigeneration expo sure to inorganic cadmium can affect functions of the nervous system. This suggests that cadmium exposed human populations may be at risk of developing nervous system disorders.

Detection of the effects of repeated dose combined propoxur and heavy metal exposure by measurement of certain toxicological, haematological and immune function parameters in rats

In the present study, an immunotoxicity test system, containing general toxicological (body weight gain, organ weights), haematological (WBC,RBC, Ht, mean cell volume of the RBCs, cell content of the femoral bone marrow), and immune function (PFC assay, DTH reaction) investigations, was used for detection the effects of a 4 weeks repeated low dose combined oral exposure of male Wistar rats with propoxur and the heavy metals arsenic or mercury. Two doses of the compounds were used: a higher one (the lowest dose which resulted in significant change of at least one parameter examined in previous dose-effect experiments), and a lower one (the highest dose which proved to be non-effective). The applied doses were: 8.51 and 0.851 mg kg(-1) of propoxur, 13.3 and 3.33 mg kg(-1) of NaAsO(2), and 3.20 and 0.40 mg kg(-1) of HgCl(2). In the combination treatment, the high dose of propoxur was combined with the low dose of arsenic or mercury, and the high doses of each heavy metals were combined with the low dose of propoxur. The main finding of this study was that some of the combinations significantly altered the relative weight of liver, adrenals and kidneys, related to both the untreated and the high dose internal control. Among the immune functions examined, only the PFC content of the spleen showed a trend of changes in certain combinations versus the corresponding high dose control. According to the present results, combined exposure with propoxur and the heavy metals examined can modify the detection limit of the single compounds and/or may alter their toxic effects.

Immunotoxicological effects of repeated combined exposure by cypermethrin and the heavy metals lead and cadmium in rats

The immunotoxic effect of a 28 days oral exposure by 55.4, 22.2, and 11.1 mg/kg cypermethrin (CY) was investigated in 4 weeks old male Wistar rats. The applied test system involved the determination of general toxicological parameters (body weight gain, organ weight of thymus, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals and the popliteal lymph node), haematological parameters (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, haematocrit, mean cell volume of red blood cells, cellularity of the femoral bone marrow), as well as immune function assays (splenic plaque forming cell assay, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction). The highest dose resulted in a significant increase of the relative liver weight, and all three doses resulted in (although inconsistent) changes in the haematocrit and MCV values. The maximum of DTH reaction decreased at all three doses. On combination of the highest CY dose with non-effective doses of lead or cadmium the immunotoxic effects of the former were modified. When immunotoxic doses of Cd or Pb were combined with the lowest CY dose, further interactions were observed on the examined parameters. The alterations of the immunotoxic effects of CY by simultaneous exposure with Cd or Pb, as described here, can lead to unexpected health consequences and/or can lead to false positive or negative results in human epidemiological studies.

Biological monitoring and health surveillance of a group of greenhouse pesticide sprayers

Repeated extensive medical examinations were carried out in 11 workers spraying organophosphate (OP), carbamate and pyrethroid pesticides in greenhouses during the whole year and in 10 control persons. On a questionnaire their social, health and family status and their working conditions were recorded. Before and after a regular spraying period with pyrethroids for 3 months the following tests were carried out: urinalysis, haematology, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA and IgM levels, whole blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, chromosome analysis and electrocardiography (ECG). Atmospheric concentrations of pyrethroids as well as their concentration in the blood and urine of pesticide workers were determined by means of gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). No abnormalities related to the work were found in the tests.

Immuno- and neurotoxicological investigation of combined subacute exposure with the carbamate pesticide propoxur and cadmium in rats

In the present study, the effects of subchronic per os exposures to cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)), and a carbamate insecticide, propoxur (Pr), were investigated in male Wistar rats on general toxicological (body weight gain, relative organ weights) haematological (RBC, WBC, Ht, MCV, cell content of the femoral bone marrow) immune function (plaque forming cell (PFC) assay, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction) and neurotoxicological (spontaneous and stimulus-evoked cortical activity, nerve conduction velocity) parameters. The animals were treated for 4, 8 and 12 weeks with 6.43 mg/kg CdCl(2), 8.51 mg/kg Pr, or with a combination of 6.43 mg/kg CdCl(2)+0.851 mg/kg Pr or 8.51 mg/kg Pr+1.61 mg/kg CdCl(2). Cadmium exposure affected the relative thymus, liver, and adrenal weight, RBC count, haematocrit and MCV, and there was an increase in nerve conduction velocity and a decrease in the cortical evoked potential latency. Pr induced a decrease in thymus weight, had some effect on the liver weight but none on the electrophysiological parameters. A significant interaction between Cd and Pr was detected by the following parameters: RBC, Ht, PFC, and nerve conduction velocity. The results indicate that combined exposures in humans may result in a shift in the apparent detection limits and/or in the LOEL of the single substances. The latter raises the necessity to reconsider exposure limits in situations where the risk of combined exposure is high.

Extension of the protocol of OECD guideline 407 (28-day repeated dose oral toxicity test in the rat) to detect potential immunotoxicity of chemicals

To indicate the immunotoxic potential of chemicals the examinations prescribed by OECD Guideline 407 were extended by the following additional toxicological, haematological, histopathological, and immune function examinations: absolute and relative organ weight of spleen, thymus, popliteal lymph nodes, lung and brain; histopathology of thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes, popliteal lymph nodes, bone marrow (femur), Peyers patches (ileum), lungs and colon; PFC assay (spleen), T cell proliferation and NK cell assay. Two well known immunosuppressants Azathioprine (AZA) and Cyclosporine A (CysA) were chosen as model compounds at a dose range which do not cause visible toxic signs on the animals during a 28 days treatment period. The results show that the applied experimental system is much more sensitive in detection of the immunotoxic potential of these two compounds in a low dose range than the examination required by OECD Guideline 407 are.

Immunotoxicological investigation of subacute combined exposure by permethrin and the heavy metals arsenic(III) and mercury(II) in rats

Effects of combined 28 days of oral exposure to the insecticide Permethrin (Pe), alone or in combination with arsenic-III (As) or Hg-II (Hg), were investigated on certain toxicological (body weight, organ weights), haematological (white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts, haematocrit (Ht), mean cell volume (MCV), cell content of the femoral bone marrow) and immune function (IgM-PFC, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction) parameters of male Wistar rats. Immunotoxic (H = high) and NOEL (L = low) doses of the three substances were determined in preliminary experiments under identical experimental conditions. In the present study, the immunotoxic dose of Pe (126 mg/kg) was combined with the NOEL dose of As (3.33 mg/kg) or Hg (0.40 mg/kg), and the NOEL dose of Pe (12.6 mg/kg) with the immunotoxic dose of As (13.3 mg/kg) or Hg (3.20 mg/kg). A separate group of animals, treated with the appropriate high dose component only, was used as internal control. Significant interactions were observed in the liver weight of the animals treated with Pe(H)-As(L) or As(H)-Pe(L), in the cell content of the femoral bone marrow in case of Pe(H)-As(L) and Pe(H)-Hg(L) combinations, as well as in the number of PFCs formed from 10(6) spleen cells in the Pe(H)-As(L) and in the maximum of DTH reaction in the Hg(H)-Pe(L) combination. The results show that combined exposures by the investigated substances modify the toxic (including immunotoxic) effects of the single compounds. These findings rise the probability that the interactions observed can also be present in human situations altering the health hazard of this three chemicals.

Immunotoxicological investigations on rats treated subacutely with dimethoate, As3+and Hg2+ in combination

Effects of combined exposure with dimethoate (DM), HgCl2(Hg),andNaAsO2 (As)wereinvestigatedfollowinga28-day oral exposure in male Wistar rats. In preliminary experiments, the LOEL (Lowest Observed Effect Level) and NOEL (Non Observed Effect Level) doses of the substances were determined using the same experimental system [determination of body weight gain, organ weights of brain, thymus, heart, lung, kidneys, adrenals, spleen, testicles, popliteal lymph node, white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) count, haematocrit (Ht), mean cell volume (MCV) of RBCs, cell content of the femoral bone marrow, IgM-plaque forming cell (PFC) content of the spleen, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction] and animal strain. In the combination studies, LOEL dose of DM (28.2 mg/kg) was combinedwithNOELdosesoftheheavymetals(HgCl2 =0.40 mg/kg, NaAsO2 =3.33 mg/kg), and vice versa (DM=7.04 mg/kg, HgCl2 =3.20 mg/kg, NaAsO2 =13.3 mg/kg). In the DM–Hg combinations, significant alterations were found versus the corresponding high-dose internal control in the body weight gain, relative liver and kidney weights, and in the PFC response. When DM was combined with As, interactions were indicated by changes of relative liver weight, MCV value, and the PFC content of the spleen. These results support the theory that the interactions between pesticides and heavy metals may modify the toxic effects of the single substances, and may also change the functional detection limits of the exposure. The changes in the functional detection limits, if they occur, can lead to false-positive and false-negative results in human epidemiological studies.