Comparison of the effect of cadmium on lymphocytes of young and adult mice.

The influence of cadmium on in vitro primary plaque-forming cells (pfc) response of young (3 weeks old) and adult (5 mon old) mice to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was investigated. Spleen cells of young and adult mice were cultured with various concentrations of cadmium chloride. Cadmium of 4 microM stimulated primary pfc response in cells of both groups, but 40 microM Significantly suppressed those of spleen cells from both groups. In the pre-treatment with 4 microM cadmium for 24 hr, spleen cells from young mice was also stimulated but hose from adult mice remained normal. As to cell viability of T and B cells from both groups after incubation with 4 microM cadmium for 24 hr, T cells from both groups and B cells from young mice were reduced by cadmium exposure. These results showed that young mice were more sensitive to the effect of cadmium on the antibody response than adult mice.