[Immunotoxicity of cobalt and nickel--experimental study on cytotoxicity of immuno-sensitive metals].

The effects of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) on the humoral immune response were studied by two indexes of specific IgM antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and polyclonal IgG antibody production in the spleens of mice intraperitoneally injected with cobalt chloride or nickel chloride. An experiment for the effect of both metals on specific IgM production was carried out by measuring IgM plaque-forming cells in the spleens of mice intraperitoneally injected with both metal salts using 1/10, 1/100 or 1/200 of LD50 for i.p. injection three times every other day and were immunized with SRBC on the day of the last injection of each metal salt. The other experiment for the effect of both metals on polyclonal IgG production was done by measuring, on days +3 or +6 in relation to the last injection of metal salts, polyclonal IgG-forming cells in the spleens of mice injected with both metal salts using 1/10 or 1/100 of LD50 for i.p. injection three times every other day by the reverse plaque-forming method. The following results may be drawn from this study: 1. Co may cause changes in the homeostasis of humoral immune response even more than affecting the immune system with immunotoxicity as antigenicity. 2. On the other hand, Ni may have antigenicity even more than an acting as immunomodulator influencing the immune system.