HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-1089v1 86/11/2913    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kojima, C. J. Articles by Sun, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kojima, C. J. Articles by Sun, T.

Physiological and immunological responses to weaning and transport in the young pig: modulation by administration of porcine ST

Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996

ckojima{at}utk.edu

Abstract

To examine the effects of exogenous porcine (p) ST on measures of stress and immune function in weaned pigs with or without transport, pigs (20 + 1 d of age) received daily injections of pST (0.5 mg/kg; n = 16) or saline (n = 16) for 5 d. On d 5, a blood sample was collected immediately before injection. At 4 h post-injection, pigs were weighed, sampled for blood, injected with di-nitrophenyl-conjugated keyhole limpet haemocyanin, and weaned. One half of the pigs in each group were transported for 3 h before placement in the nursery. Pigs were weighed and blood was collected on 1, 7, and 14 d postweaning. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Serum IGF-I concentrations were increased by pST and decreased by weaning, but not affected by transport. The free cortisol index was elevated in all pigs 1 d postweaning, although less in transported versus non-transported pigs. By 7 d postweaning, the free cortisol index returned to pre-wean levels. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G increased in all pigs by 14 d postweaning, but were not affected by pST or transport. Serum IgM concentrations were elevated at 7 and 14 d postweaning. Before weaning and again 1 d postweaning, pigs treated with pST had greater concentrations of IgM than did control animals. Circulating neutrophils increased in pST-treated pigs 4 h after the final pST injection. Improved immune function in weaned pigs by pST may lead to greater health and growth in a commercial setting.

Key Words: growth • immune • pig • stress • weaning

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Kojima, S. J. Jenkins, T. A. Cooper, M. P. Roberts, J. A. Carroll, and H. G. Kattesh Effects of syndyphalin-33 on feed intake and circulating measures of growth hormone, cortisol, and immune cell populations in the recently weaned pig J Anim Sci, October 1, 2009; 87(10): 3218 - 3225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Cooper, M. P. Roberts, H. G. Kattesh, and C. J. Kojima Effects of Transport Stress, Sex, and Weaning Weight on Postweaning Performance in Pigs Professional Animal Scientist, April 1, 2009; 25(2): 189 - 194. [Abstract] [PDF]