Abstract
The effects of lead, cadmium, mercury, and zinc were determined on the response of mouse splenic lymphocytes cell cultures to stimulation by the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Mice were exposed for 30 days to the metal salt in the drinking water. Splenic lymphocytes were cultured at 15 and 30 days to determine the response to the mitogens by measuring the uptake of [ 3H]thymidine. In vitro response was measured after adding the metal salts directly to the cell culture. In vivo exposure to high concentrations of lead, cadmium, or mercury for 30 days resulted in significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased responses to both mitogens. Cadmium (1.42 m m) and mercury (0.50 m m) produced these decreases after 15 days of exposure. Cadmium and mercury also produced dose-dependent inhibition in vitro, with the response to PHA being more sensitive. The results suggest that the metals may affect the lymphocyte directly by altering the synthesis of cellular DNA and thereby influence production of antibodies. Lymphocyte membrane ATPase activity was measured to ascertain the metal effects. All metals used caused a dose-dependent inhibition of ouabain-insensitive ATPase in isolated lymphocytes.
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