Changes of Blood IL-2 , Cortisol Levels and WBC Immune Function in Rats Exposed to Cadmium / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of acute cadmium exposure on the immune function of white blood cells (WBC), plasma interleukin-2 (IL-2) and cortisol levels in rats. Methods Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into three groups averagely. The control group (group C) and two experimental groups(groupⅠand group Ⅱ) were respectively exposed to 0, 0.5, 1.0 mg / kg body weight (BW) cadmium for 7 days by intraperitoneal injection. Blood samples of the rats were collected on the 4th and 7th day after administration of cadmium respectively and the related parameters were analyzed. Results The BW of rats in groupⅠand group Ⅱ were significantly lower than that of the group C. The WBC counts of two experimental groups were higher than that of the control group. Higher percentage of neutrophiles and lower percentage of lymphocytes were observed in rats of group Ⅰ and Ⅱ on the 7th day after cadmium exposure, while no obvious variations in monocytes(%), eosinophiles(%) and basophiles(%)were observed among the three groups. Blood T-lymphocyte(%) and IL-2 levels in rats of groupⅠandⅡdecreased on the 4th and 7th day after cadmium exposure respectively, while B-lymphocyte(%) increased on the contrary. Plasma cortisol levels in rats of groupⅠ and groupⅡ were higher than that of the group C on the 7th day after cadmium exposure. Conclusion The results showed that acute cadmium exposure could affect the WBC immune function and result in the defect of cellular immune function as well as significant change of adrenal cortex endocrine activities.