Mercury induced B-cell activation and antinuclear antibodies in mice.

The effects of mercury exposure on the immune system was investigated in SJL and C57BL/6J mice. 1.6 mg HgCl2/kg body weight was injected subcutaneously every third day for two or four weeks. SJL mice developed splenic cell hyperplasia, with a transiently increased number of splenic cells secreting immunoglobulins of the IgM, IgG and IgG1 isotypes and anti-TNP antibodies, increased serum immunoglobulin concentrations, and antinuclear antibodies with a homogeneous and/or nucleolar pattern. The C57BL/6J mice showed a more short-lived increase in the number of immunoglobulin-secreting splenic cells and serum immunoglobulins, and a weak, exclusively homogeneous ANA pattern consisting of IgM antibodies.