Lymphoid tissue responses to a novel perfluorochemical emulsion in rats

The effects of a novel perfluorochemical emulsion on rat lymphoid tissues and antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) have been studied. The responses were compared with those following injection of identical doses of the proprietary emulsion, Fluosol-DA 20% (F-DA). Liver weight was increased up to 15% at 8 days following intravenous (i.v.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the novel emulsion but was unaffected by F-DA injection. Spleen weight also increased by a maximum of 20% in response to i.p. injection of the novel emulsion but this was less than increases of up to 44% which occurred in F-DA-injected rats. Thymus weight decreased (P less than 0.05) following i.p. injection of the novel emulsion whereas mesenteric lymph node (MLN) weight remained unchanged. However, MLN weight was increased in response to i.v. injected F-DA, while thymus weight showed a small increase following i.p. F-DA injection. Mean plasma antibody titres to SRBC were significantly (P less than 0.01) increased at 7 days after immunization in rats pretreated with i.p. injections of either the novel emulsion or F-DA; titres in animals pretreated with i.v. injections of either emulsion were similar to control.