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Depression of Weak Allograft Immunity in the Mouse by Neonatal or Adult Exposure to Urethan¹

The Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111

Treatment of adult mice of three strains with minimally carcinogenic doses of urethan caused an impairment of cellular immunity as measured by prolongation of allograft survival. This effect was only detectable at the highest dose of urethan tested (150 mg/mouse) and was confined to the weaker strain combinations examined for allograft prolongation. Newborns appeared to be more susceptible to the depressive effect of urethan than did adults. In the BALB/c strain, doses of 120 and 150 mg urethan administered to adults were ineffectual in prolonging allograft survival. However, a dose of 1.0 mg administered to 4-day-old males (but not females) significantly prolonged allograft survival in some individuals when the mice were tested at 3 months of age. These facts are discussed in light of the pronounced carcinogenic effect of urethan in young and newborn mice.

¹ Supported by USPHS Grants CA 08856, CA 06927, and FR 05539, and the Anna Fuller Fund.

² Present address: Cancer Research Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. 94720.

³ Present address: Departments of Pathology and Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.

Received 6/ 9/69. Accepted 8/11/69.