Effect of Electroplating Waste Water on Immune Function in Kunming Mice

Electroplating waste water is considered to be harmful to health of animals. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that electroplating waste water would suppress immune functions in Kunming mice. Twenty-six mice were randomly divided into the control group (n = 13) and the experimental group (n = 13), in which the latter drank electroplating waste water. We found that body mass and most organ wet masses (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, caecum, colon, testes, epididymis, seminal vesicals) were not influenced by electroplating waste water. However, stomach with its content, small intestine, small intestine with its contents and colon with its contents were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. As expected, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response indicative of cellular immunity was suppressed by electroplating waste water. White blood cells, thymus and spleen mass were all not response to electroplating waste water. Taken together, electroplating waste water had different effects on distinct components of immune system in Kunming mice.