Effect of methylmercury on humoral immune responses in mice under conditions simulated to practical situations.

A suppression and delay in reaching the peak of primary humoral response in mice was noted when relatively large dosage of methylmercury was administered in a short time period, suggesting the interference with the initial multiplications of antibody producing cells. On the other hand, sub chronic administration of low levels of methylmercury in diet (0.5 and 5 ppm) caused no definite suppression on either primary or secondary responses, though they tended to be depressed.