Immunosuppressive Effects of Trifluralin on NMRI Mice

Trifluralin is a widely-used herbicide that inhibits proper cell proliferation in the root of plants. Therefore, the present study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of trifluralin on immune system of the NMRI mice challenged with sheep red blood cells(SRBCs). The study population consisted of 14 male NMRI mice randomly catagorized into two equal groups and then were immunized with SRBC. The mice in the treatment group received trifluralin (5omg/kg orally-0.01 LD50) per day from the beginning of the study,which continued for 2 weeks. The results of the current study indicated a significant decrease in the levels of anti-SRBC antibody and simultaneously a significant decrease in the delayed type of hypersensitivity(DTH) in the treatment group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the level of respiratory burst of phagocytic cells, the lymphocyte proliferation index of splenocytes, as well as the spleen weight index significantly decreased in the treatment group compared to the control group. The study findings revealed that trifluralin even in the low dose may lead to a significant suppression in regard with many aspects of the immune system.