Transport of Colostral Macromolecules into the Cerebrospinal Fluid via Plasma in Newborn Calves

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the transfer of bovine colostral macromolecules especially the lactoferrin (Lf), transferrin (Tf), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) from the gastrointestinal tract to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via systemic circulation in newborn calves. Cannulae were placed into the jugular vein and cisterna magna to collect blood and CSF, respectively at various time points. The colostrum, plasma, and CSF were analyzed by ELISA, SDS-PAGE, two-dimensional PAGE, and Western blotting. The concentration of total protein, Lf, Tf, and IgG in plasma averaged 47 mg, 204 ng, 101 microg and 15 microg/ml before colostrum feeding and increased to the peak values of 64 mg, 2413 ng, 820 microg, and 4608 microg/ml 8 h after feeding, respectively. Before colostral feeding CSF, total protein, Lf, Tf, and IgG averaged 0.44 mg, 10.3 ng, 0.31 microg, and 0.11 microg/ml, but peak values after feeding averaged 2.0 mg, 173 ng, 71 microg and 72 microg/ml after 10 h, respectively. Immunologically, six EGF-positive protein bands were detected in colostrum as well as in three bands higher density in plasma and CSF after colostral feeding. This study revealed that the colostral macromolecules were not only absorbed into the systemic circulation, but also some of them including Lf, Tf, IgG, and EGF-like proteins were transported into the CSF in a time-dependent manner through blood-CSF or blood-brain barrier of the newborn calves.

Oral Administration of Lactoferrin Inhibits Inflammation and Nociception in Rat Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis

“…Previously, we reported that orally administered of BLF entered the CSF in piglets [10] and calves [21]. In the preliminary study, we also detected the presence of BLF in rat CSF following oral or intraperitoneal administration.…”

“…Lactoferrin is a ubiquitous protein which exists in milk, plasma, synovial fluids, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and other biological fluids [3, [14][15][16]21]. Under inflammatory conditions, LF production is increased in the periphery by neutrophils [2,14] and in the central nervous system (CNS) by microglia [8].…”

Nutritional and microbiological quality of bovine colostrum samples in Brazil

“…The average protein content of colostrum is represented mainly by Ig, which has the important function of helping to combat microorganisms during the first days of life in a newborn calf (Weaver et al, 2000). Moreover, proteins from colostrum serve as a source of amino acids, although they can also play the role of meeting energy requirements (Talukder et al, 2002). Kehoe et al (2007) found a protein content of 14.9% and emphasized that this component has little influence of feeding but more of parity of cows.…”

“…In addition to the lipid content, lactose, despite its low colostrum concentration (2.7%), has also an important function in the energy supply of newborns (Davis and Drackely, 1998). Another group that contributes to good newborn development is non-immunoglobulin proteins, which facilitate nutrient absorption and provide amino acids for development of the gastrointestinal tract (Talukder et al, 2002).…”

Bovine lactoferrin has a nitric oxide-dependent hypotensive effect in rats

“…Moreover, opioids also act in the CNS and cause systemic hypotension (11,39). On the other hand, LF and its receptor have also been identified in the CNS (13,15,16,24,25,32,33,41). Recently, we reported that BLF produces -opioid receptormediated antinociceptive activity (19), and this BLF-induced analgesia is mediated by NO production (20).…”