Cortisol and Immune Measures in Boars Exposed to Three-day Administration of Exogenous Adrenocorticotropic Hormone |
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| Authors: | N Biland?i? M ?uri? M Lojki? B ?imi? D Mili? I Bara? |
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| Institution: | (1) Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia;(2) Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb;(3) Dubravica Swine Farm, Dubravica, Croatia |
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| Abstract: | The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adrenal stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on blood cortisol
concentration and on circulating total and differential leukocyte counts during and in the 16 days after ACTH administration.
Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6–7 months were used. ACTH-treated animals (n = 7) were given ACTH intravenously at 10 μg/kg body mass for 3 days. A control group of animals (n = 7) received 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline intramuscularly. ACTH induced a highly significant increase (p>0.0001) in serum
cortisol in treated boars. On the day after the last ACTH dose, the cortisol concentration was significantly higher, but the
level of significance was lower than during ACTH administration (p>0.05). During ACTH treatment, a significant increase was
recorded in total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (p>0.05 to p>0.0001), along with the increase in blood cortisol
concentration, whereas percentage lymphocyte count showed a significant decrease. Lymphopenia disappeared upon cessation of
treatment, but neutropenia developed in the week after treatment. On all three days of ACTH challenge, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte
ratio was significantly increased. An increase in eosinophil percentage was recorded on treatment days 1 and 2, whereas ACTH
treatment had no effect on basophil percentage. In conclusion, three-day administration of ACTH to young boars during restraint
caused effects similar to acute stress situations, as suggested by disappearance of the effects on immune function after the
last drug dosage. |
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| Keywords: | adrenocorticotropic hormone boars cortisol immunity leukocyte stress |
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