The Influence of Vehicle Gavage on Seasonality of Immune System Parameters in the B6C3F1 Mouse

Abstract

Seasonal hyporesponsiveness and other immune system variations were observed in female B6C3F1 mice during routine screening tests for immunomodulation. In a retrospective assessment, 4 years of data from over 1200 naive, vehicle, and immunosuppressed (cyclophosphamide-treated) control mice were compiled and analyzed for uniformity and significant circannual pattern of immune response. Endpoints included body, spleen, and thymus weights and an immunotoxicity assessment which enumerates specific antibody plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleen following immunization with sheep red blood cells. Dosing vehicles were water, corn oil, or 1% methyl cellulose instilled by oral gavage in a 5–20 ml/kg volume once daily for 5 days. Four days later, terminal organ and body weights were recorded and PFC were quantitated. Upon analysis, individual datapoints were arrayed in consistent circannual and seasonal patterns. In naive mice, the yearly peak response in circannual rhythm (acrophase) for body weight and PFC parameters occurred in the summer, with acrophases for spleen and thymus weights located in the spring. Vehicle gavage modulated the circannual/seasonal means and acrophases of all measured endpoints in distinct patterns which varied by vehicle. Body weight was the endpoint least affected by vehicle treatment Corn oil was the vehicle resulting in the most dramatic effects on natural rhythm. As expected, the naive mice receiving an ip injection of cyclophosphamide exhibited significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in circannual mean values for PFC response and relative organ weights when compared to naive controls and the elimination of significant expression of rhythm for PFC parameters. Our results indicate that dosing vehicles alter normal seasonal patterns of biological responses in the mouse. These effects on natural rhythms should be considered in toxicity evaluations, especially when comparing datapoints collected at different times of the year.