Time course of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced thymic atrophy in the Wistar rat.

Exposure to sublethal doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in Wistar rats results in thymic atrophy and reduced thymic cellularity. In a first experiment, rats were once orally intubated with 0, 1, 5, 25, 50, and 150 micrograms TCDD/kg body wt and sacrificed at Day 10. The dose that produced one-half of the maximal thymic involution was estimated at about 10-20 micrograms/kg. The time course (Days 0-21) of thymic atrophy induced by a single oral intubation of 25 micrograms TCDD/kg body wt revealed four phases. In phase 1 (initiation phase, Days 0-2) a decrease in proliferative activity was seen in cortical thymocytes, whereas no changes occurred in thymic cellularity. Phase 2 (lymphodepletion phase, Days 2-8) was characterized by an initial strong depletion of immature CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) cells (Day 4), followed by a more gradual decrease in the number of mature thymocytes (Day 6). On Day 8 the lymphodepletion was maximal. In phase 3 (stationary phase, Days 8-13) no changes occurred in thymic cellularity. Although the first signs of recovery were already seen on Day 6, indicated by a recovery in proliferative activity in the thymus cortex, an increase in thymic cellularity was observed first after Day 13 (phase 4, recovery phase, Day 13 onward). Reversibility of thymic atrophy is therefore observed within the estimated half-life of TCDD in the rat thymus (> 16 days). We conclude that TCDD exerts a rapidly reversible effect on an intrathymic cortical target cell population.