Objective   To discuss changes of some blood immune cells and immune-mediators after subacute Cd-exposure.

  Methods   Sixty healthy Spragu-e Dawley male rats were chosen and divided randomly into three groups:control group(group C), meidium Cd-exposed group(group M)and high Cd-ex posed group(group H).Dur ing six week experimental period, the common complete diet was orally provided daily in rats of group C, and the animals of groups M and H were given the diets with 5 and 10 mg of cadmium perkg feed, respectively.

  Results   Red blood cell complement receptor type 1(RBC-CR1) rosette rates(%)in groups M and H were obviously lo wer than those in group C since the 2nd week, red blood cell immune complex(RBC-IC)rosette rates(%)show ed higher elevations between the 2^nd and 4^th weeks and followed by more significant decreases in groups M and H than in group C; T-lymphocytes(%)in groups M and H decr eased or significantly reduced during the 2^nd to 6^th week period compared with that in group C; Plasma interleukin-2(IL-2)levels were lower or significantly lower in groups M and H than in group C during the entire experimental period; Plasma tumor necrosis factro-A(TNF-A)in Cd-exposed groups showed no obvious differ ence within the 1^st to 3^rd weeks and then significantly high levels till the 6^th week in comparison with that in group C.

  Conclusion   The gradually accumulated cadmium in subacute Cd-exposed rats results in the defect of RBC and T lymphocyte immune function, and over release of TN F-Amay play a further role in the induction of malfunction of multiple systems or organs in rats.