1National Biotechnology Centre, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
2Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, lzatnagar-243 122 (Uttar Pradesh), INDIA
The present investigation was carried out on avian lymphocytes isolated from the spleen of apparently healthy birds. The lymphocytes were adjusted as 107 cells/ml in RPMI-1640 media and 10 ml suspension of splenic cells was prepared which was divided into 5 equal parts and was treated with no observable effect level (NOEL) x 10−2, NOEL x 10−3, NOEL x 10−4, NOEL x 10−5, NOEL x 10−6 and NOEL x 10−7 concentrations of cadmium chloride and lead acetate for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. each. Blastogenesis of T-and B-cell was assessed by lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) using concanavalin A (Con-A) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as mitogen, respectively. There was significant reduction in delta OD of the lymphocytic cultures stimulated by Con-A and LPS mitogens. Reduction in blastogenesis was more pronounced in cells treated with cadmium chloride than lead acetate. Moreover, the effects of cadmium chloride and lead acetate were dose and time dependent, being maximum at NOEL x 10−2 for 120 min. while minimum at NOEL x 10−7 dose for 30 minutes.
Immunosuppression, lead, cadmium, avian lymphocytes
