Differential effect of low molecular weight alcohols on the Con A stimulation of mouse spleen cells

Incorporation of [3h]thymidine ([3H]TdR) into concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated murine splenocytes was found to be enhanced by addition of certain concentrations of ethanol, 2-propanol and acetone. The alcohol/acetone-induced enhancement of the Con A response was found to be accompanied by an increase of the percentage of living cells as assessed by trypan blue exclusion. Concentrations of ethanol and 2-propanol which caused maximum [3H]TdR uptake in Con A cultures were also found to lead to higher percentages of aggregated cells than in comparison to Con A cultures without alcohol. The data suggest that alcohols in certain concentrations are capable to achieve optimum Con A stimulation.