FUNCTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE RAT THYMUS INDUCED BY DIFFERENT DOSES OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of diseases associated with impaired functioning of the immune system in the world. One of the main reasons for this can be considered environmental pollution by endocrine disruptors. The most common disruptor on the planet is DDT. Its ubiquitous content in food, water and soil is noted, which makes the study of the effect of its background doses on the body extremely relevant. Systemic consumption of low doses of the disruptor DDT leads to significant changes in the structural and functional characteristics of the rat thymus, which are manifested by increased death of lymphocytes and reticuloepitheliocytes, in the mechanisms of death of which the p53-dependent pathway of apoptosis is involved, as well as a decrease in the proliferative activity of thymocytes, i.e., it is capable of having an immunotoxic effect on the body. These data show that the maximum permissible levels of DDT in food are not safe for the body's immune system.