In-vitro assessment of immunotoxic effect of isoproturon in poultry lymphocytes

In present study, a weedicide, isoproturon was evaluated for in-vitro immunotoxicity in poultry lymphocytes. The spleenic lymphocytes were collected and treated with no observable effect level (NOEL), NOEL/10², NOEL/10³, NOEL/10⁴, NOEL/10⁵, NOEL/10⁶ and NOEL/10⁷ dose of isoproturon for 30, 60 and 90 min and a group of cells were kept as untreated control. The concanvalin A (Con-A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated proliferation of T and B lymphocytes was assessed using MTT dye method. The proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes responses to Con-A and LPS were markedly reduced in treated group in comparison to control indicating the down regulation of not only the number of the variable lymphocytes but also their blastogenic activity required to mount immune response in poultry. It can be concluded from the present study that the isoproturon even in very low doses can reduce the proliferation of poultry lymphocytes leading to state of immunosuppression.