Enhancement of the acute phase response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in steers supplemented with chromium

Abstract

The study examined the effect of chromium supplementation on the response of steers to an LPS challenge. Steers received a premix that added 0 (control; n = 10) or 0.2 mg/kg of chromium (n = 10) to the total diet on a dry matter basis for 56 d. Steers were fitted with jugular catheters and rectal temperature (RT) recording devices on d 52. Blood samples were collected and sickness behavior scores assigned to each steer relative to an LPS challenge (0.5 µg/kg) on d 55. Pre-LPS RT were greater in chromium-supplemented than in control steers. Post-LPS RT increased in both treatments, with control steers producing a greater change in RT than chromium-supplemented steers. Sickness behavior scores were greater in control than in chromium-supplemented steers post-LPS (P = 0.03). Cortisol concentrations did not differ between treatments pre-LPS. Post-LPS cortisol concentrations increased but did not differ due to treatment. Concentrations of IL-4 increased post-LPS but were not affected by treatment pre- or post-LPS. Treatment did not affect pre-LPS TNF-α or IFN-γ. Post-LPS TNF-α and IFN-γ increased in both treatments, with chromium-supplemented steers producing greater TNF-α (P = 0.005) and IFN-γ (P = 0.004) than control steers. Pre-LPS IL-6 was greater (P = 0.027) in chromium-supplemented steers than in control steers. Post-LPS IL-6 increased in both treatments and was greater (P < 0.001) in chromium-supplemented than in control steers. These data suggest that chromium supplementation enhances the acute phase response of steers to an LPS challenge, which may expedite recovery.

Yeast cell wall supplementation alters aspects of the physiological and acute phase responses of crossbred heifers to an endotoxin challenge

“…6,7,18 The lower vaginal temperatures observed following administration of LPS in YCW-supplemented cattle is similar to that observed in steers supplemented with live yeast and/or YCW. 6 An increase in core body temperature is a necessary response to a pathogen, as greater body temperatures contribute to pathogen clearance.…”

“…Previous studies from our laboratory have found a greater magnitude of sickness behavior in calm and intermediate Brahman bulls, 8 and in crossbred steers (with or without chromium supplementation) when administered the same dose of LPS. 18 Therefore, there may be several factors that influenced the magnitude of the sickness behavior response observed in the current study.…”

Effect of group size on behavior, health, production, and welfare of veal calves1,2

“…The samples were centrifuged at 1,000 × g for 10 min at room temperature, and plasma was harvested into 0.5-mL microcentrifuge tubes and stored at -20°C until analyzed. Plasma cortisol concentrations were determined using a previously validated (Burdick et al, 2011), commercially avail-able ELISA according to the manufacturer's directions (Arbor Assays, Ann Arbor, MI). The inter-and intraassay CV were 6.1 and 11.8%, respectively, and assay sensitivity was 17.3 pg/mL (results are presented as nanograms per milliliter).…”

“…Group housing of veal calves may represent a source of chronic stress for the calf (Veissier et al, 1998), and plasma cortisol levels have been used in cattle to detect activation of the hypothalamo-pituitaryadrenocortical axis due to external stressors (Friend et al, 1987;Munksgaard et al, 1999;Burdick et al, 2011). It was hypothesized that calves housed in larger groups would have greater plasma cortisol levels, but results of the present study revealed that group size did not alter circulating cortisol concentrations, which may be attributed to housing of calves in the same space area per calf; yet at the same time, calves housed in groups of 8 were subjectively observed to be difficult to handle during data collection and blood sampling.…”

BILL E. KUNKLE INTERDISCIPLINARY BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Overlapping physiological responses and endocrine biomarkers that are indicative of stress responsiveness and immune function in beef cattle123

“…For example, in weaned Brahman beef heifers exposed to a CRH challenge (Figure 3A), we previously reported that peak serum cortisol concentrations occur within 30 min of the challenge, and remain elevated above baseline values for approximately 4 h post-challenge (Hulbert et al, 2013). When crossbred beef steers were administered LPS ( Figure 3B), peak serum cortisol concentrations were not observed until 1 h post-challenge, and remained elevated above baseline values for approximately 5 h postchallenge (Burdick et al, 2012). Interestingly, while the overall response profiles appear very similar between CRH-and LPS-challenged cattle, the magnitude of the responses were 3-fold greater for LPS.…”