The effect of methylmercury, tetraethyl lead, and sodium arsenite on the humoral immune response in mice.

The Effect of Methylmercury. Tetraethyl Lead. and Sodium Arsenite on the Humoral Immune Response in Mice. BLAKLEY. B. R .. SISODIA. C. S .. AND MUKKUR. T. K. ( 19801. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 52, 245-254. Male mice were exposed to methylmercury. tetraethyl lead. or sodium arsenite for 3 weeks in the drinking water at three or four con· centrations ranging from 0.5 to 10.0 ppm. The humoral component of the immune sy>tem was subsequently evaluated using hemagglutination. radial immunodiffusion. and the Cunningham plaque assay (both primary and secondary immune response). Each evaluation of the immune response demonstrated immunosuppressive effects at low metal concentrations. A maximum immunosuppressive effect was produced in most instances at a metal concentration less than 2.0 ppm. Metal concentrations in the liver and kidney showed that a dose-effect relationship existed at all metal exposure levels: however, the maximal immunosuppressive effect was observed in spite of increasing tissue concentrations of the metal.