Investigation of immunotoxicity of supercypermethrin forte in the Wistar rat

Abstract

The study was done to find out whether subacute exposure to supercypermethrin forte (SCM) affected cellular and humoral immunity.

Groups of 10 male Wistar rats were given SCM by gav age for 28 days at 12.5 mg kg^-1 day^-1 (1/14 LD₅₀), 8.75 mg kg^-1 day^-1 (1/20 LD₅₀) and 4.38 mg kg^-1 day^-1 (1/40 LD₅₀) and the response of splenocytes to mitogens, natural killer cell activity, plaque forming cell assay and phagocytosis were examined.

The response of splenocytes to the mitogens phyto haemagglutin and concanavalin A, and to a T-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells), was enhanced at 1/40 LD₅₀ SCM, and at 1/20 and 1/14 LD₅₀ these variables were sup pressed. In the group exposed to 1/14 LD₄₀ SCM the sup pression was statistically significant. A non significant but dose-related increase in NK-cell activity was observed. The phagocytic activity of polymorphes was not signifi cantly affected. Thus, SCM at 1/14 LD₅₀ had significant adverse effects on a number of immunological functions in rats, but lower doses had no effect on these activities.