Dose dependent effects on lymphoid organs following a single dermal application of sulphur mustard in mice

The effects of a single dermal application of sublethal doses [15.5, 7.75 and 3.88 mg kg-1] of bis(2-chloroethyl)sulphide [sulphur mustard, SM] on body weight, organ/body weight ratio, haematology, histology and cellularity of spleen and thymus were studied after 7 days, in Balb/c mice. A progressive fall in body weight was noticed from the fifth day onwards after SM treatment. A dose-dependent decrease in the relative weights of spleen, liver and peripheral lymph nodes, and an increase in adrenal weight were also seen. An increase in red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration following SM intoxication were also dose dependent. These changes, together with a significant reduction in the cellularity of the spleen and thymus and degenerative histological changes, show that a single sublethal dermal dose of SM can cause considerable dose dependent systemic effects in Balb/c mice.