CADMIUM IONS INFLUENCE THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE ACTIVITY OF MURINE SPLENOCYTES BOTH IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO

The luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) activity of splenocytes of mice of the strain (CBA x C57B1) F-1 was monitored after treatment wi th Cd2+ (cadmium chloride) in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. C d2+ (at concentrations of 1 mu M-1 mM) increased the CL reaction of th e splenocytes (2 x 10(6) cells/ml) in vitro in a dose-dependent manner , both instantaneously and after incubation for 1 h. In in vivo experi ments, Cd2+ was administered in two ways. Following a 14-day administr ation of cadmium to mice in drinking water (300 mg Cd2+/l), the CL rea ction of the splenocytes was significantly reduced. On the other hand, after i.p, administration of CdCl2, dissolved in PBS (2 mg/kg body ma ss, repeated seven times during 14 days), the metabolic activity of th e phagocytes was increased. From the results it follows that cadmium a ffects the immune system. However, its toxicity is dependent on the ro ute of administration.