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The rôle of cortisol and β-endorphin in the response of the immune system to weaning in lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

S. M. Rhind ,
H. W. Reid ,
S. R. McMillen  and
G. Palmarini
S. M. Rhind
Affiliation:
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH
H. W. Reid
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, 408 Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh EH17 7JH
S. R. McMillen
Affiliation:
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH
G. Palmarini
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, 408 Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh EH17 7JH
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Abstract

The relationship between weaning stress-induced changes in stress hormone profiles and immune function was investigated in groups of 10 lambs immunized against adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH; treatment A) or fi-endorphin (treatment B) to reduce the circulating concentrations of cortisol and fi-endorphin respectively. Control animals (treatment C) were immunized against a porcine thyroglobulin carrier protein. Application of weaning stress was associated with significantly elevated plasma cortisol concentrations but no significant increase in fi-endorphin concentrations in C lambs. Immunization against ACTH suppressed the post-weaning increase in cortisol concentration. This was associated with a transient reduction in the lymphocyte stimulation response to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) antigen in the A animals but there was no effect on the antibody response or interferon-y production by antigen stimulated lymphocytes. There were no significant effects of immunization against fi-endorphin on the capacity to mount antibody or cell-mediated immune responses. It is concluded that weaning stress-induced increases in cortisol did not inhibit the immune response. Since cortisol concentrations and the cell mediated immune response at 8 days after immunization were positively associated it is concluded that these indices are not independent measures of stress.

Keywords

immune responselambsstressweaningwelfare
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 66 , Issue 2 , April 1998 , pp. 397 - 402
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1998

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