Acute immunotoxicity of p-chloronitrobenzene in mice: II. Effect of p-chloronitrobenzene on the immunophenotype of murine splenocytes determined by flow cytometry

To evaluate the immunotoxicity of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB), we investig ated its effect on the immunophenotype of murine splenocytes. BDF1 male mic e were randomly divided into exposed and control groups: the exposed group received p-CNB at 300 mg/kg dissolved in olive oil, while the control group received only olive oil, by a single intraperitoneal (ip) or subcutaneous (sc) injection. On days 3, 5, 7, and 10 after the injection, splenocytes we re harvested from both groups, and the following cell phenotypes were quant ified by flow cytometry: (1) B cells (CD45R/B220); (2) T cells (CD3e); (3) T-cell subsets (CD4 and CD8a); (4) natural killer (NK) cells (NK-1.1); (5) macrophages (CD11b; Mac-1); (6) nucleated erythrocytes (Ter-119); and (7) d ead cells with propidium iodide (PI). The percentages and numbers of B, T, subsets of T (CD4 and CD8), and NK cells in the exposed mice significantly decreased as compared with the respective control. On the other hand, macro phages (Mac-1(+) cells), nucleated erythrocytes (Ter-119(+) cells), and dea d cells in the exposed mice markedly increased as compared with the respect ive control after ip injection of p-CNB. The above findings indicate that p -CNB has an immunotoxic effect on mice. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.