[The biological effects in animals in relation to the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station. 8. The status of cellular immunity in different generations of rats].

In studying immunity in laboratory rats of different generations (P, F1 and F2) brought up in Chernobyl in 1989-1990 the authors have revealed the development of leuko- and lymphopenia; decrease in the absolute content of immunocompetent cells bearing Fc receptors to IgG; stable and long-lasting suppression of blood NK cell activity; reduction of antibody-dependent cytotoxicity; and changed ability of blood lymphocytes to interact contactly with allogenic mast cells. The most considerable disorders have been found in 6- and 9-month-old F1 rats and in 3- and 6-month-old F2 rats.