The influence of chronic exposure to lead on the formation of lung metastases in a syngeneic system
Wille, G.W.; Koldovsky, P.; Schlipköter, H.W.
Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie Mikrobiologie und Hygiene. 1. Abt. Originale B Hygiene 173(5): 319-326
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0932-6073 PMID: 6974450 Document Number: 179902
Mice of strain A/J were fed for a period of 13 weeks with pellets containing lead-acetate either 300 mg/kg or 3000 mg/kg (Altromin 1314). Then the animals were injected i.v. with 500 000 of living YAC tumor cells. Nine days later the mice were killed by neck dislocation, the lung metastases were visualized by ink injection into the trachea, and the total metastatic size per lung was expressed as the square area of all metastases. Animals in both leadtreated groups showed highly significant reduction of metastatic formation in comparison with the untreated control group. This effect was even stronger expressed in the group with higher dose of lead. Various mechanisms are discussed, especially the influence of lead on immune mechanisms.