Effect of ACTH Administration on Biochemical and Immune Measures in Boars

Abstract

The effects of stress induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on biochemical and immune changes in Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were observed during ACTH administration and for 16 days after the cessation of treatment. Adrenocorticotropic hormone treated animals (n = 7) were given intravenously 10 microg/kg body mass of ACTH for 3 days. Control group of animals (n = 7) received intramuscularly 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline. Total protein and globulin levels were significantly elevated during the induced stress period and for the next 16 days (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001, respectively). Also, serum immunoglobulin IgG concentration was significantly elevated during and after ACTH injection (P < 0.001 to P < 0.0001). Adrenocorticotropic hormone treatment had no effect on serum albumin, IgA and IgM concentrations. Glucose concentration was significantly decreased on the second day of ACTH administration (P < 0.001) and on day 9 after treatment (P < 0.001). Calcium level was significantly decreased only for 24 h after the last ACTH dosage (P < 0.01). Also, serum phosphorus level was significantly decreased on the first (P < 0.05) and third (P < 0.001) days of ACTH challenge but remained unaffected after the cessation of ACTH treatment. It is concluded that the administration of ACTH to boars results in immune humoral and biochemical changes during stress and the post-stress period.

Intravenous Infusion of Cortisol, Adrenaline, or Noradrenaline Alters Porcine Immune Cell Numbers and Promotes Innate over Adaptive Immune Functionality

“…This is in accordance with other studies in pigs that produced comparable plasma CORT concentrations by injection of adrenocorticotropic hormone and observed no effect on total leukocytes while neutrophils increased and lymphocytes decreased, similar to the results presented in this article (14). The inverted course of blood numbers of these cell types is characteristic for stressful situations with elevated GC concentrations and has been described both in pigs (39) and humans (40), indicating once more the similarity of these species. In contrast, the neutrophilia caused by social stress in rats was shown to be exclusively CA induced (41).…”

Immunoglobulin changes in boars exposed to administration of levamisole and exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone

“…migration of leukocytes (Symoens and Rosenthal, 1977;Blecha, 1988;Jenkins and Hurdle, 1989). Administration of LEV prior to stress induction in the previous study resulted in a balanced ratio of neutrophyls and lymphocytes in the blood of boars (Biland`i} et al, 2005). LEV affects the immune response more efficiently when applied at regular intervals, and its administration is recommended during 3 consecutive days or as one weekly dose (Brunner and Muscoplat, 1980).…”