Effect of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans on leukocyte in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

In order to investigate immunological abnormalities induced by polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, we have performed bronchoalveolar lavage in the rats given polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. We have administrated 5.0 mg of polychlorinated biphenyls or 0.5 mg of polychlorinated dibenzofurans to Sprague-Dawley rats intraperitoneally. Four weeks after the administration, mild necrosis of bronchiolar Clara cells and mild edema associated with chronic inflammatory infiltration in the alveoli were seen in both groups. In the peripheral blood, percentage of T-lymphocyte, helper T-cell and suppressor T-cell decreased significantly both in polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans given rats. On the other hand, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, percentage of T-cell increased only in polychlorinated dibenzofurans given rats and percentage of suppressor T-cell increased in both groups. O₂^- release by alveolar macrophage increased significantly both when stimulated with wheat germ lectin and with phorbol myristate acetate. These results indicate that immunological alternation may be different between peripheral blood and respiratory system as one of the target organs of these chemicals. Further examination is needed for the analysis of immunological abnormalities in the target organs of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans poisoning.