Developmental immunotoxicity of methylmercury: The relative sensitivity of developmental and immune parameters

Current developmental and reproductive toxicity protocols include only a limited set of parameters for effects on the developing immune system. In this study, a wide range of immunological parameters were included in a pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity study. Dose-response data were compared to determine the relative sensitivity of...

The Netherlands twin register biobank: A resource for genetic epidemiological studies

In 2004 the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) started a large scale biological sample collection in twin families to create a resource for genetic studies on health, lifestyle and personality. Between January 2004 and July 2008, adult participants from NTR research projects were invited into the study. During a home visit between 7:00 and 10:00 am...

Lactobacillus casei Shirota does not decrease the food allergic response to peanut extract in Brown Norway rats

Probiotics are claimed to beneficially affect the immune system and their involvement in allergy prevention is being investigated extensively. However, the efficacy of probiotics in allergy prevention remains controversial. We investigated whether the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) could modulate the food allergic response against...

A thirteen week dietary toxicity study with 7-hydroxymatairesinol potassium acetate (HMRlignan) in rats

Plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol (7-HMR) is a novel precursor of the mammalian lignan enterolactone. A 13 week toxicity study at dietary levels of 0, 0.25, 1, and 4% (w/w) of potassium acetate complex of 7-HMR (HMRlignan) was conducted in the Wistar rat. These dietary levels resulted in an average daily intake of 160, 640, and 2600 mg...

The accuracy of extended histopathology to detect immunotoxic chemicals

The accuracy of extended histopathology to detect immunotoxic chemicals in female B6C3F1 mice was evaluated under the auspices of the National Toxicology Program (NTP). A workgroup was formed consisting of four pathologists who conducted extended histopathological evaluation of lymphoid tissues obtained from a subset of NTP toxicology studies,...

Evaluation of the toxicity of concentrated barley β-glucan in a 28-day feeding study in Wistar rats

β-Glucans are water-soluble cell-wall polysaccharides consisting of (1→3,1→4)-linked β-D-glucopyranosyl monomers that comprise a considerable proportion of soluble fiber from certain grains including oats and barley. Consumption of foods containing β-glucan or β-glucan-enriched fractions prepared from these grains lower serum cholesterol...

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and flow-mediated dilatation are related to the estimated risk of coronary heart disease independently from each other

Background: Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) are measures of distinct functions of the endothelium, reflecting nitric oxide (NO)-mediated and pro-inflammatory status, respectively. The comparative value of the two measures in relation to cardiovascular risk is unknown....

13-Week oral toxicity study with isomaltulose (Palatinose®) in rats

The potential subchronic oral toxicity of isomaltulose (Palatinose®) was examined by administering this substance in the diet to groups of 20 male and 20 female Wistar rats at levels of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10% for 13 consecutive weeks. Daily clinical observations, body weight, food conversion efficiency, food and water consumption were not affected at...

Histopathology of a spontaneously developing mast cell sarcoma in a Wistar rat

A case report is given of a very rare spontaneous mast cell tumor in the eyelid of the left eye of a female Wistar rat used in a long-term oral toxicity study. Metastasis of the tumor had occurred in the mandibular lymph nodes and in the liver. Clinically, the animal showed blepharospasm, dacryorrhoea, and exophthalmus. Hematologic findings...

Age-related changes in immune reactivity: The influence of intrinsic defects and of a changed composition of the CD4+ T cell compartment

Aging is accompanied by a decline in immune reactivity which to a major extent can be attributed to changes at the level of the regulatory CD4+ T cells. In addition to evidence pointing to intrinsic defects, resulting in improper responsiveness of lymphocytes, it is likely that many age-related phenomena can be explained by a changed composition...

In vivo effects of toxic and detoxified endotoxin alone or in combination with muramyl dipeptide on lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in the spleen of Meth A sarcoma-bearing mice

Chemicals/CAS: Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine, 53678-77-6; Acid Phosphatase, EC 3.1.3.2; Antigens, Surface; Antigens, Thy-1; carboxylesterase, EC 3.1.1.1; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases, EC 3.1.1; Endotoxins; Immunoglobulins, Surface.

Effects of endotoxin-treatment on inflammatory cell infiltrates in murine Meth A sarcoma

The effect of intravenously injected endotoxin on inflammatory cells within solid Meth A tumours was studied and central hyperaemia, necrosis and early collapse were observed macroscopically at 4, 24 and 48 h, respectively. The effects were studied in semithin sections and cytocentrifuge preparations of the tumours. The inflammatory cell...

Immunological and histological reactions to respiratory administration of ribosomal Bordetella pertussis vaccine in mice

Chemicals/CAS: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Pertussis Vaccine; Tetanus Toxoid

Nutritional effects of alkali treated soyprotein in rats

Alkali treated spun soy isolate was fed to rats at dietary levels of 5, 10, and 20% for a period of 90 days. The results failed to reveal any adverse effects on general appearance, growth, feeding efficiency, hematological indices, blood serum values, urine composition, kidney function, organ weights, and gross and microscopic pathology except...

Safety evaluation of yeast grown on hydrocarbons. II: One-year feeding study in rats with yeast grown on pure n-paraffins

Yeast grown on hydrocarbons according to the n-paraffin process of The British Petroleum Company Ltd. was fed to groups of male and female rats at dietary levels of 10, 20 and 30% for 1 yr. Two control diets were used, one being similar to the yeast diet but with soya-bean meal substituted for yeast and the other being the institute's stock diet...