Evaluation of immune function in mice exposed to ordram®

Abstract

The potential effects that the thiocarbamate herbicide Ordram® has on the immune system of mice was evaluated following 12 days of acute dosing by oral gavage. Dosages of Ordram® ranging from 20 to 320 mg/kg/day had no consistent significant effects on a variety of immune parameters investigated. The immune parameters measured were the following: body and lymphoid organ weights; splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity; lymphoproliferative response to B and T lymphocyute mitogens and allogeneic spleen cells in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction; and delayed-type hypersensitivity and antibody responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The effects that the immunosuppressant cyclophosphamdie has on these immune parameters was also examined. The results indicate that Ordram® does not appear to affect key parameters of the immune system of mice under the conditions of exposure employed.