Effect of nickel chloride on primary antibody production in the spleen

Mice immunized intraperitoneally with sheep erythrocytes were treated with nickel chloride, a common particulate air pollutant. Primary antibody production in the spleen was examined using a hemolytic plaque technique. A negative linear dose-response relationship (p is less than 0.05) was observed between the logarithm of (plaques/10(6) cells) and the nickel concentration administered. Mice injected with 3.09 mug Ni2+/g body weight displayed lymphocyte function similar to that of control mice. However, injection of 9.26-12.34 mug Ni2+/g caused significant immunosupression (p is less than 0.05).