SENSITIVITY OF MOUSE LYMPHOID AND NONLYMPHOID ORGANS TO SILESIAN AIR-POLLUTANTS

The toxic effect of Silesian air pollutants to mouse organs was examin ed. Histological changes were found in the examined lymphoid organs (t hymus, spleen) as well nonlymphoid organs (liver, kidneys), The altera tions in weight indexes of lymphoid organs were also observed. Conside rable changes in cellularity, weight index, and histology of the thymu s in the mice exposed to air pollutants suggest the atrophy of this or gan, which may lead to extrathymic T-cell differentiation and even acc eleration of thymocytes maturation, which may lead to certain allergic or autoimmune processes. The results suggest the sensitivity to Siles ian air pollutants of all investigated mouse organs in the following o rder: thymus, liver, kidneys, and spleen. (C) 1997 Academic Press.