ACUTE EFFECTS OF COPPER, CHROMIUM AND MANGANESE UPON IMMATURE BLOOD-CELLS AND MACROPHAGES

Cell survival and phagocytic capacity of rat thymocytes, bone marrow c ells and bronchoalveolar macrophages have been tested after short-term incubations with different amounts of Cu(II), Cr(III) and Mn(II) ions (as chloride salts), and with aqueous farm soil extracts, containing excessive amounts of these metals. Copper ions (10 - 100 mu M) exerted lethal effects upon all 3 cell populations tested. Cr caused apoptosi s of thymocytes and marrow cells. Mn ions induced DNA autolysis of thy mocytes and decrease in adherent macrophage numbers, though increasing relative amounts of phagocytes in the latter population. Copper and c hromium ions caused loss of myeloid marrow cells in suspensions under study. Cytotoxic effects of metal-rich soil extracts included a variet y of above mentioned cell alterations, several of them coinciding with effects obtained with pure metal salts, i.e. the loss of marrow myelo id cells expressed direct correlations with increased soil contents of copper, while increased lethality of total marrow cells did positivel y correlate with soil Cr amounts. The degree of macrophage damage corr elated with excess of Cu and Mn in the samples. Possible implications of blood cell testing for metal-contaminated environmental mixtures ar e discussed.