Effect of endosulfan on peripheral sheep leukocytes in vitro

The immunotoxic and genotoxic effect of endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide, on sheep peripheral blood leukocytes was examined in in vitro conditions. The immunotoxic effect was evaluated by assays of the metabolic activity of phagocytes and assays for lymphocyte activation--the leucocyte migration-inhibition assay (LMIA) and lympho-proliferation. The significant inhibitory effect of endosulfan on metabolic activity of peripheral blood phagocytes was registered at the actual concentrations of 10(-3)- 10(-4) M. At 10(-3) M the migration of leukocytes was inhibited, both in activated and non-activated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) leukocyte suspensions (p < 0.01) in LMIA. This indicated the direct cytotoxic effect of endosulfan on the polymorphonuclears and monocytes of which the intensity of migration is an indicator of lymphocyte activation with mitogen. At the concentration of 10(-4) M an immunotoxic effect, ie significant decrease of lymphocyte activation with mitogen was recorded in LMIA. Lympho-proliferation test showed the significant inhibition of proliferation for PHA-stimulated lymphocytes at 10(-3) M and 10(-4) M. Micronucleus assay evaluated the genotoxic potential of endosulfan. Higher concentrations of insecticide (10(-5) M, 10(-6) M) resulted in a significant dose dependent increase in the number of micronuclei.