A bacterial challenge assay was developed utilizing the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, in order to assess potential immunotoxic effects from exposure to specific polychlorinated biphenyl congeners. Earthworms were inoculated with Aeromonous hydrophila, establishing a 10-day LD50. In vitro assays for effects of PCBs on phagocytosis agreed with mammalian studies, demonstrating potent suppression of phagocytosis by the non-coplanar PCB congener 138 and no suppression by the coplanar congener 126. However, when the effects of the two PCB congeners were evaluated for suppression of resistance to a whole animal infection challenge assay, coplanar PCB 126 decreased the ability of L. terrestris to withstand infection while non-coplanar PCB 138 did not.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc3640 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | McDonald, Jennifer C. |
| Contributors | Venables, Barney J., Fitzpatrick, Lloyd, Goven, Arthur J. |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | Text |
| Rights | Public, Copyright, McDonald, Jennifer C., Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
Page generated in 0.0016 seconds