Effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) on some immunological parameters after oral exposure in rats and mice

The immunotoxic potential of a commercial polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE; Bromkal 70–5 DE) was compared with that of a commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB; Aroclor 1254) in orally exposed rats and mice. In addition, mice were exposed to the PBDE congener 2,2’,4,4'‐tetrabromodiphenyl ether (TBDE), or to the PCB congener 2,3,3’,4,4'‐pentachloro‐biphenyl (CB‐105). The animals were given daily oral administrations of PCB (10 mg/kg body weight) or of PBDE (18 or 36 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days, which, in case of the lower PBDE dose, would result in approximately the same molar exposure for the two compounds. Liver weights were significantly higher in all of the exposed groups, except for rats exposed to the lower dose of PBDE, indicating induction of hepatic enzymes. In rats, exposure to Aroclor 1254 caused decreased thymus weights and cellularity, and flow cytometry studies showed an increased proportion of CD8+ and a decreased proportion of CD4‐CD8— (immature) cells in thymi. In mice, exposure to...

[1]  H. Tryphonas.  Immunotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls: present status and future considerations. , 1994, Experimental and clinical immunogenetics.

[2]  J. Roboz,et al.  Polybrominated biphenyls in model and environmentally contaminated human blood: protein binding and immunotoxicological studies. , 1985, Environmental health perspectives.

[3]  N. Kerkvliet,et al.  Immunologic and endocrine effects of the flame-retardant pentabromodiphenyl ether (DE-71) in C57BL/6J mice. , 1994, Toxicology.

[4]  P. Darnerud,et al.  Lack of effects of some individual polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners on human lymphocyte functions in vitro. , 1997, Toxicology letters.

[5]  R. Smialowicz,et al.  Evaluation of the immunotoxicity of low level PCB exposure in the rat. , 1989, Toxicology.

[6]  C. Esser,et al.  Evidence for the promotion of positive selection of thymocytes by Ah receptor agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. , 1995, European journal of pharmacology.

[7]  M. Luster,et al.  Exposure to tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters fetal thymocyte maturation. , 1992, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[8]  M. Luster,et al.  CHAPTER 10 – Immune alterations , 1989 .

[9]  M. Feeley,et al.  Toxicity of PCB 77 (3,3′,4,4′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl) and PCB 118 (2,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl) in the Rat Following Subchronic Dietary Exposure , 1995 .

[10]  G. Becher,et al.  PCB congeners and the murine immune system: The capacity of isolated congeners to decrease spleen specific antibody forming cell numbers varies with the toxic equivalence factors of the congeners. , 1994, Toxicology in Vitro.

[11]  M. Luster,et al.  EFFECT OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE OF PCB (AROCLOR 1254) ON SPECIFIC AND NONSPECIFIC IMMUNE PARAMETERS IN THE RHESUS (MACACA MULATTA) MONKEY , 1991 .

[12]  C. Esser,et al.  Ontogenic development of murine fetal thymocytes is accelerated by 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl. , 1993, International journal of immunopharmacology.

[13]  C. A. Wit,et al.  Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in biological samples from the Swedish environment , 1993 .

[14]  C. Esser,et al.  3, 3′, 4, 4′‐Tetrachlorobiphenyl Inhibits Proliferation of Immature Thymocytes in Fetal Thymus Organ Culture , 1994, Scandinavian journal of immunology.

[15]  B. Jansson,et al.  Analysis of some polyhalogenated organic pollutants in sediment and sewage sludge , 1992 .

[16]  C. Koopman‐Esseboom,et al.  Immunologic Effects of Background Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Dioxins and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Dutch Infants , 1995, Pediatric Research.

[17]  A. Hanberg,et al.  Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) , 1992 .

[18]  T. Gasiewicz,et al.  Lymphocyte stem cell alterations following perinatal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. , 1989, Molecular pharmacology.

[19]  A Schmoldt,et al.  Induction of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 by the pentabromo diphenyl ether Bromkal 70 and half-lives of its components in the adipose tissue. , 1990, Toxicology.

[20]  D. Morris,et al.  A review of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced changes in immunocompetence: 1991 update. , 1991, Toxicology.

[21]  S. Safe,et al.  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): environmental impact, biochemical and toxic responses, and implications for risk assessment. , 1994, Critical reviews in toxicology.

[22]  R. Smialowicz,et al.  Comparison of the T cell-independent antibody response of mice and rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. , 1996, Fundamental and Applied Toxicology.