Effect of orally administered dioctyltin dichloride on murine immunocompetence

The immunotoxicological effects of di(n-octyl)tin dichloride (DOTC) in the mouse were measured using a well-defined system to monitor alterations in immune responsiveness towards both self and heterologous cell membrane components. Oral weekly administration of DOTC caused a suppression of the anti-self erythrocyte antibody response. The humoral response against rat erythrocytes was also diminished. Although humoral responsiveness was affected only at a dose level which caused thymic atrophy (500 mg/kg body wt) the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to oxazolone, a measure of cell-mediated immunity, was not affected. These data indicate that DOTC can suppress specific aspects of murine immunocompetence and may be relevant in designing studies for assessing possible hazards associated with environmental chemicals.