Four experiments were conducted to determine possible differences in the in vitro concanavalin A (ConA) response between two lines selected either for high (H) or low (L) antibody response 5 d after intramuscular immunization with SRBC. In all four experiments, the cell proliferation after stimulation with ConA was higher, although not always significantly so, in the L line than in the H line, independently of dose of Con A and source of lymphocytes. It can be concluded that selection for anti-SRBC antibody response affected the cellular response in chickens. Previously reported results, in other chicken lines selected for humoral response to SRBC after intravenous immunization with SRBC, showed an opposite line difference in mitogen response. These opposite results point to the fact that comparable selection protocols for immunological variables do not necessarily have a comparable influence on the diverse components of the immune response.
SummaryIn order to use buprenorphine as an analgesic in immunological experiments, we have studied the potential immunotoxicity of buprenorphine. Three-week-old male Wistar Riv: TOX rats were subcutaneously treated with buprenorphine by injection of 0.1, 0.4, or 1.6 mg/kg body weight per day over a period of 4 weeks. Concentrations used were within the range for analgesia in rats. A slight decrease of body weight gain was observed at the highest dose in one but not in a duplicate study. Decreased liver weights were observed in all dose groups. Histopathologically glycogen storage was decreased and fatty vacuolation was found to be increased starting from the lowest dose group. The relative but not absolute weight of the lungs was slightly increased at the lowest dose, this phenomenon was therefore not dosedependent. Histopathologically, a dose-dependent increase in interstitial pneumonia in the lung was found. At the 2 higher dose levels the weight of the adrenal glands was increased. No haematological changes were found, nor were there effects on bone marrow.In one of 2 studies indications of potential immunotoxicity noted were: an increased weight of the thymus, as well as an increased weight of popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes. No effects on the weight of the spleen were found. Histologically, there were no changes in the lymphoid organs tested. Total immunoglobulin A concentrations in serum were significantly decreased in the highest dose group, whereas IgG concentrations were increased, albeit not statistically significantly. IgM and IgE concentrations showed no alterations.Two types of immune function assays were carried out: determination of natural killer cell activity and of mitogen responsiveness of spleen cells. Whereas natural killer activity was unaffected, increased responses to concanavalin-A, phytohaemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen as well as lipopolysaccharide were found, although never statistically significant.The results indicate that buprenorphine may have a slight stimulatory influence on the immune system at dose levels that are used for analgesia. The effects on the immune system that were noted were modest. Moreover, they were observed in conjunction with other toxicological effects, and can therefore either be direct or indirect.Keywords Ratj immunotoxicologyj buprenorphine; toxicologyj analgesia Pain and distress caused by experimental procedures should be minimized both for ethical, legal, and scientific reasons. Scientifically, pain and distress represent
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