Effects of low-dose dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on the morphology and function of rat thymus

The effect of low-dose dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on the function of the immune system is a serious problem because of wide use of this pollutant. We studied the morphological and functional changes in the thymus of rats receiving low-dose dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane for 6 and 10 weeks. Histological studies detected changes characterized by lymphocyte and reticuloepitheliocyte death, progressing with increase of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane dose, and a decrease of the thymocyte proliferative activity. The results of comparative analysis of changes in the thymuses of rats in experimental and control groups during different periods of the study indicated that low-dose dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane promoted earlier onset of age-specific involution and caused a dose-dependent acceleration of these changes.