The Effect Of Arsenic On Offspring's Immune Function In Mice And The Antagonism Of Selenium

Objective To research the inhibitory effects of arsenic on offspring immune function in mice and the antagonistic effects of selenium. Methods NIH mice were randomly divided into 7 groups and exposed to arsenic (0.9, 4.5, 22.5mg/L) and selenium (0.3, 1.4, 7.2mg/L) through drinking water. The mice's offspring were used for the study with one generation-one nest reproductive test. After weaning, the offspring of each group were randomly divided into 2 groups according to their body weights, one group continued to be exposed to arsenic, another ceased consumption. The indexes were determined in the 11th week after the offspring were born. Results The results showed that (l)body weights of the offspring increased slowly with the increase of arsenic. The coefficients of spleen and thymus, WBC and lymphocyte of the peripheral blood, the rate of conversion of spleen cells and the content of hemolytic OD of the offspring were all significantly inhibited(P < 0.05). The numbers of positive T, B-lymphocytes in spleen decreased. Leukocyte of the peripheral blood and the coefficients of liver and kidney increased(P < 0.05). Degenerating thymus could be observed in parts of offspring in high arsenic group (22.5mg/L). Splenic corpuscles hyperplasiaed, and some of them syzygied; splenic sinus in red pulp dilatated because of congestion. All these evidences could be obtained by optical microscope cell investigations. Spleen cells became bigger, and their distance was shortened. Chromatins were unevenly distributed and agglutinated. Organelle dropsied and their normal structures were damaged. These evidences were obtained by electron microscope cell investigations. The pathological changes became serious with theincrease of arsenic. (2)After stopping exposure to arsenic, though the content of hemolytic OD increased, it was still significantly inhibited . And in other indexes there were no significant differences compared with the control group. Splenic corpuscles became smaller; splenic sinus dilatated lightly. Spleen cells got smaller, and organelle dropsied lightly. Evidences were obtained by optical and electron microscope cell investigations. (3)Using selenium to antagonize arsenic, there were found no significant differences in the indexes of middle and high selenium groups (1.4, 7.2mg/L) comparing the control group, except for WBC of the peripheral blood and the content of hemolytic OD of low selenium group (0.3mg/L, P < 0.05). And the pathological changes of spleen cells of the selenium groups decreased. Conclusions This study suggests that the immune function of the offspring can be inhibited by arsenic, with humoral immunity exacerbated. However, these effects are reversible; and these effects can be antagonized by selenium.