Immunotoxic manifestations in rats following inhalative exposure to furfural vapors

Furfural is an industrial compound used as a process intermediate and as a solvent; it poses a potential inhalation hazard in occupational settings. This study was carried out to find furfural-induced immunotoxicity in Wistar rat following inhalative exposure. The weights of thymus and lymph node were found decreased, while the weights of the liver and the adrenal gland were significantly increased following furfural exposure. Delayed-type hypersensitivity response was found decreased in furfural vapors-exposed animals when compared to that of control animals. The phagocytic index of peritoneal and alveolar exudates showed significant decrease and was most prominent (90%) in 30 days-exposed groups. The number of anti-rat anti-sheep red blood cell immunoglobulin M plaque forming cells of spleen got decreased in furfural-exposed groups in comparison to control. Taken together, this study indicates that inhalation of furfural induces immunotoxic manifestations that could lead to severe immunological disorders.     

Large plasmids governing multiple resistances to heavy metals: A genetic approach∗

Gram negative bacteria classified as Alcaligenes eutrophus and carrying large resistance plasmids (generally two) were found in various industrial sites highly contaminated by heavy metals (Zn⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺,...). These strains were detected by DNA hybridization with a probe made with a 9kb fragment (ccz⁺ fragment) encoding for resistances to Cd⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺ and Zn⁺⁺, and cloned from plasmid pMOL30. This plasmid was isolated from the representative strain A. eutrophus CH34 which harbours the plasmids pMOL30 (240 kb) and pMOL28 (165 kb). Phenotypes related to pMOL28 and pMOL30 include the tolerance to Cd⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, Cr0₄ ⁼, Cu⁺⁺, Hg⁺⁺, Ni⁺⁺, Pb⁺⁺ and Zn⁺⁺. The described genetic properties of these plasmids refer to some cloned or mapped functions and to some plasmid rearrangements. Plasmid pMOL85 (250 kb) which is related to pMOL30 was also described. Its host (A. eutrophus DS185) was isolated from a zinc desert. pMOL85 can efficiently self transfer in plasmidfree derivatives.     

牛至挥发油对小鼠特异性免疫功能的影响

十至（止痢草，土香江，o咕。附岭mL．）主治中暑、感冒、急性胃肠炎、黄疽等症【门，其挥发油（Theydsthe。ifOfOwlhoL，简称VO）对30多株致肠炎常见首均有不同程度的杀菌和抑菌作用【‘」，并能显著提高小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活性［3］．为了进一步阐明该药抗炎作用的免疫机理，我们观察了VO对小鼠特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫功能的影响，现将结果报告如下．l材料和方法1．l材料及处理1．1．l动扶昆明种小鼠，由湖北省医学科学院实验动物室提供．脚掌肿胀反应实验的小鼠体重为Zltlg，3，其余的实验皆用25。屹，it兼用．豚鼠，由本院动物房提…     

Selective cellular and molecular effects of beryllium on lymphocytes†

An involvement of the immune system has been implicated in many of the whole animal effects of beryllium (Be) and its compounds and thus lymphocytes are a relevant cell model to study some of the cellular and molecular actions of the metal. Recent results indicate micromolar concentrations of Be salts are weakly mitogenic to lymphocytes in vitro probably as a result of direct interactions with the cell membranes. Furthermore evidence has been obtained that high affinity lymphocyte Be‐binding may be predictive of the potential to express delayed Be hypersensitivity in vivo. Although sub mitogenic concentrations of Be salts may actually activate accessory (macrophage type) cells, concentrations normally mitogenic to lymphocytes were found to inhibit their proliferative response to accessory cell dependent mitogens as a result of a Be²⁺ concentration dependent destruction of the adherent cell population. Higher concentrations of Be salts proved cytostatic to lymphocytes possibly by the established property of intracellularly accumulated Be²⁺ to inhibit cell division. Lymphocyte proliferation can be related to increases in protein phosphoryl‐ation capacity which in vitro can be inhibited by Be²⁺ and preliminary evidence indicates that tyrosine phosphorylation may be particularly sensitive.