© 1990 Oxford University Press
research-article |
The Immunotoxicity of Three Nickel Compounds following 13-Week Inhalation Exposure in the Mouse1
Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 5890, Albuquerque. New Mexico 87185
*Biomedical Research Division, Lovelace Medical Foundation Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences—National Toxicology Program Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Received November 17, 1989; accepted June 12, 1990
The Immunotoxicity of Three Nickel Compounds following 13-Week Inhalation Exposure in the Mouse. HALEY, P. J. SHOPP, G. M., BENSON, J. M, CHENG, Y.-S., BICE, D. E., LUSTER, M. I., DUNNICK, J. K., AND HOBBS, C. H. (1990). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol 15, 476–487. Groups of B6C3F1, mice were exposed to aerosols of nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2), nickel oxide (NiO), or nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO46H2O) 6 hr/day, 5 days per week for 65 days to determine the immunotoxicity of these compounds. Exposure concentrations were 0.11, 0.45, and 1.8 mg Ni/m3 for Ni3S2, 0.47, 2.0, and 7.9 mg Ni/m3 for NiO; and 0.027, 0.11, and 0.45 mg Ni/m3 for NiSO4. Thymic weights were decreased only in mice exposed to 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2. Increased numbers of lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN), but not spleen nucleated cells, were seen with all compounds. Nucleated cells in lavage samples were increased in mice exposed to the highest concentrations of NiSO4 and NiO and to 0.45 and 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2. Increased antibody-forming cells (AFC) were seen in LALN of mice exposed to 2.0 and 7.9 mg Ni/m3 NiO and 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2. Decreased AFC/106 spleen cells were observed in mice exposed to NiO, and decreased AFC/spleen were seen for mice exposed to 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2. Only mice exposed to 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2 had a decrease in mixed lymphocyte response. All concentrations of NiO resulted in decreases in alveolar macrophage phagocytic activity, as did 0.45 and 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2. None of the nickel compounds affected the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macro-phages. Only 1.8 mg Ni/m3 Ni3S2 caused a decrease in spleen natural killer cell activity. Results indicate that inhalation exposure of mice to nickel can result in varying effects on the immune system, depending on dose and physicochemical form of the nickel compound. These nickel-induced changes may contribute to significant immunodysfunction.