Effects of Nonylphenol on immune function of female Sprague-Dawley rats

• Published in: Toxicological and environmental chemistry Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 658 - 668
• Main Authors: Xia, Hailing, Wang, Aiqing, Zhang, Yufu, Tian, Hailin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.04.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: adverse effects; Biodegradation; Blood; blood serum; Cytokines; Domestic; Environmental chemistry; Females; Immune systems; immunotoxicity; interferon-gamma; interleukin-4; natural killer (NK) cells; natural killer cells; natural killer T (NKT) cells; nonylphenol; Rats; Rodents; Serums; Spleen; Surfactants; T cell receptors
• ISSN: 1029-0486; 0277-2248; 1029-0486
• DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2013.792987

Nonylphenol (NP) is the final biodegradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylates, which are widely used as surfactants in domestic and industrial products. NP was reported to exert estrogenic actions and shown to potentially adversely affect reproductive functions. However, NP influence on immune system function remains unclear. To address this issue, the effects of NP on spleen and thymus were examined in this study. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with NP orally at doses of 0, 20, 80, or 200 mg/kg respectively. Data showed that NP increased the levels of natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells in peripheral blood and decreased the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in serum. These findings suggest that exposure to NP by oral route may induce adverse effects on the spleen and thymus and affect the immune function of female rats.