[Studies on the cell-mediated immunity caused by beryllium compounds].

In order to examine the sensitizing ability of beryllium (Be), a footpad reaction test and a macrophage migration inhibition test were carried out using mice treated with beryllium compounds. The findings of the experiments are summarized as follows: 1) The footpad reaction test of the mice injected with BeCl2 once a week subcutaneously at their dorsal area showed the positive results after four injections. The macrophage migration inhibition test was also performed by an agarose plate method using peritoneal cells and spleen cells obtained from these mice. The ratio of the number of positive mice showed more than 50% after five injections when peritoneal cells were used and after six injections when spleen cells were used. 2) The footpad reaction test of mice injected with one of various Be-compounds six times once a week showed a cross positive reaction against these compounds, and the macrophage migration of these mice was inhibited by these Be-compounds, but not by other metals. 3) When mice were once injected with 7BeCl2, about a half dose of the injected metal was discharged from the body within 7 days after the injection, and about a half dose of the residual metal was still found in the injected site. Further investigations may be required to solve the point that the persistent remaining of this metal in situ may raise the Be sensitizing ability.