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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311345
Title: Altered postnatal acute phase response in heifers exposed to lipopolysachcharide in utero

Author
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item Sanchez, Nicole
item SHARON, KATE - Texas Tech University
item ARTHINGTON, JOHN - University Of Florida
item LANCASTER, PHILLIP - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2014
Publication Date: 2/6/2015
Citation: Carroll, J.A., Sanchez, N.C., Sharon, K.P., Arthington, J.D., Lancaster, P.A. 2015. Altered postnatal acute phase response in heifers exposed to lipopolysachcharide in utero. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 93(F-Supplement 1):29.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure on the postnatal acute phase response (APR) to LPS challenge in heifer calves. Pregnant crossbred cows (n=50) were separated into prenatal stress (PNS; n=25; administered 0.1 microgram per kilogram body weight LPS subcutaneously at 233 +/-19 days of gestation) and saline groups (Cont; n=25). From these treatments, heifer calves (n= 12 PNS and 11 Cont) were identified at weaning (238 +/-15 days of age) to subsequently receive an LPS challenge. On day 0 heifers were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and vaginal temperature (VT) recording devices and were moved into individual pens. On d1, heifers were challenged intraveneously with LPS (0.5 micrograms per kilogram body weight) at 0h (1000h). Sickness behavior scores (SBS) were recorded and whole blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals from -2 to 8 hours and again at 24 hours relative to the LPS challenge. Serum was isolated and stored at -80C until analyzed for cytokine concentrations. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS specific for repeated measures. There was a treatment x time interaction (P<0.001) for the change in VT (relative to 0 hour) such that the change in VT was greater in Cont than PNS from 150 to 250 min (P=0.05), yet it was greater in PNS than Cont from 355 to 440 min and from 570 to 1145 min (P=0.05). The change in VT (relative to 0 hour) was greater (P<0.001) in PNS heifers (0.360 +/- 0.001C) compared to Cont heifers (0.104 +/- 0.001C). There was also a treatment x time interaction (P=0.02) for SBS such that scores were greater in Cont than PNS at 0.5 hour (P=0.04), yet were greater in PNS than Cont from 2.5 to 4 hours post-LPS (P=0.05). Concentrations of the cytokines interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were not affected by treatment (P=0.33), but were affected by time (P<0.001). There was a tendency (P=0.06) for a treatment x time interaction for concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Specifically, IL-6 concentrations were greater in PNS than Cont heifers from 5.5-6 hours and from 6.5-8 hours post-challenge (P=0.05). This resulted in an overall time (P<0.001) and treatment (P<0.001) effect with PNS heifers having greater IL-6 (4511 +/- 134 picograms per mililiter) than Cont heifers (3788 +/- 119 picograms per mililiter). These results demonstrate that a single exposure to LPS during gestation can alter the postnatal APR to LPS in heifer calves.