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Journal of Animal Science, Vol 68, Issue 2 454-459, Copyright © 1990 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Vitamin A deficiency: serum cortisol and humoral immunity in lambs

N. J. Bruns and K. E. Webb Jr
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.

Serum cortisol and antigen-specific and polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were measured to investigate the relationship between vitamin A status and immune function in lambs. Twenty-four 3-mo-old crossbred ewe lambs weighing approximately 10 kg were each fed 900 g/d of a carotene-deficient diet. The 12 control lambs also received a 100,000 IU oral dose of vitamin A palmitate every 2 wk. All lambs were given primary and secondary antigenic challenges. Lambs were slaughtered at the end of the secondary challenge period. Liver vitamin A concentrations were greater (P less than .001) in the control animals (69.5 vs 1.3 micrograms/g wet tissue). Both groups of lambs exhibited a similar growth response until d 105, after which daily gain of the control lambs exceeded (P less than .03) that of the A-deficient lambs. Polyclonal serum IgG concentrations were greater (P less than .05) in the A-deficient lambs on d 49 to 124 and on d 151 (P less than .10). Ovalbumin-specific serum IgG concentrations tended to be greater in the control lambs throughout the primary and secondary challenge periods. Control lambs had greater titers on d 164 (P less than .07) and d 190 (P less than .03). Vitamin A status appeared to have no consistent effects on serum cortisol concentrations. Spleen weights were greater (P less than .002) in the A-deficient lambs. Lungs from 11 of 12 A-deficient lambs contained abscesses, as opposed to 1 of 12 for the control lambs. Both polyclonal and antigen-specific IgG concentrations were affected by vitamin A status. Serum cortisol concentrations did not appear to mediate this effect.


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A. M. Arnett, M. E. Dikeman, C. W. Spaeth, B. J. Johnson, and B. Hildabrand
Effects of vitamin A supplementation in young lambs on performance, serum lipid, and longissimus muscle lipid composition
J Anim Sci, November 1, 2007; 85(11): 3062 - 3071.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 1990 by the American Society of Animal Science.