Immune functions in methyl and ethyl carbamate treated mice

Female B6C3F1 hybrid mice (5-7 weeks of age) were given methyl or ethyl carbamate over a 2 week period and subsequently examined for alterations in various immunological parameters. Exposure to methyl carbamate, a non-carcinogen, did not cause any alterations in the parameters examined. In contrast,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 1982-10, Vol.50 (1), p.223-230
Main Authors: Luster, M I, Dean, J H, Boorman, G A, Dieter, M P, Hayes, H T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibody Formation - drug effects
Bone Marrow - drug effects
Carbamates - pharmacology
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects
Female
Immunity - drug effects
Immunity, Innate - drug effects
Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects
Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects
Macrophages - drug effects
Mice
Mice, Inbred Strains
Neoplasms, Experimental - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - drug effects
Urethane - pharmacology
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Summary:Female B6C3F1 hybrid mice (5-7 weeks of age) were given methyl or ethyl carbamate over a 2 week period and subsequently examined for alterations in various immunological parameters. Exposure to methyl carbamate, a non-carcinogen, did not cause any alterations in the parameters examined. In contrast, exposure to the multipotential carcinogen, ethyl carbamate (urethan) at tumourigenic dosages caused severe myelotoxicity at all dosage levels. Related to the myelotoxicity was a marked depression of natural killer cell activity. Other parameters including susceptibility to tumour cell challenge, humoral immunity, cellular immunity and macrophage function were less affected. These studies indicate that non-toxic, but carcinogenic dosages of urethan, have profound but selective effects on the immune system which can be related to alterations in bone marrow functions.
ISSN:0009-9104
1365-2249