Modulation of benzene toxicity by polyinosinic-polycytidilic acid, an interferon inducer

Repeated intraperitoneal administration of benzene (1.0 ml/kg body wt.) for 3 days produced leucopenia, lymphocytopenia and significantly decreased body wt. (P less than 0.001) and organ weights of thymus (P less than 0.001) and spleen (P less than 0.001) in female albino rats. Total iron content, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity of the liver and bone marrow were significantly increased as a result of benzene exposure. Low molecular weight (LMW) bleomycin detectable iron content was accumulated in bone marrow, whereas hepatic LMW iron was not detectable after benzene intoxication to rats. Prior administration of single dose (250 micrograms/100 g body wt.) of Poly IC, an interferon inducer with immunomodulating potential was found to be ameliorate some of the adverse effects of benzene as well as restoration of hepatic architecture histologically. Superoxide dismutase activity, lipid peroxidation, total iron content and LMW iron content (bone marrow) were normalised. Pretreatment of animals with Poly IC was able to enhance the SRBC antibody titre in benzene-treated animals. This study suggests that the beneficial effects of Poly IC in the amelioration of the acute toxicity of benzene has clinical significance.