Alteration of humoral and cellular immunity in manganese chloride‐treated mice

Abstract

Immunological effects of manganese chloride (MnCl ₂ ) were determined in male CD‐1 mice injected (ip) daily with MnCl ₂ (0, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg) for 4 wk. Liver and spleen weights increased in the 10‐mg/kg MnCl ₂ treatment group. The weights of thymus, kidney, and adrenal glands were not affected by MnCl ₂ treatment. No significant differences in peripheral erythrocyte or leukocyte counts were observed; however, packed cell volumes decreased in the medium‐ and high‐dose groups. Manganese treatment significantly increased the uptake of [³H]thymidine (³H‐TdR) by cultured splenic cells. The lymphoproliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) increased at all levels of MnCl ₂ exposure. No differences in the responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were observed. Mixed lymphocyte responses increased significantly with exposure to 10 mg MnCl ₂ /kg. Another immunological alteration induced by MnCl ₂ was a dose‐dependent immunosuppressive effect on the development of antibody‐forming cells. The production of anti‐sheep red blood cell antibody (α‐SRBC) nearly ceased following exposure to 10 mg MnCl ₂ /kg. This effect was apparently reversible, as the number of plaque‐forming cells in the 10‐mg/kg treatment group increased after MnCl ₂ treatment had been halted for 2 wk. The a‐SRBC titer also decreased significantly in the 10‐mg/kg treatment group, corresponding to the reduction of antibody‐producing cells. MnCl ₂ treatment was immunomodulatory in male CD‐1 mice, as indicated by the increase in mitogen and mixed lymphocyte responses and decrease in antibody production.