Plasma protein which has been known as one of nonspecific immunostimulators was added to feedstuff to examine its effect on the enhancement of cellular immune response in porcine immune system. A total of 40 piglets, 20 male and 20 female each, were fed for 30 days with or without plasma protein. The peripheral blood were collected and analyzed for the investigation of leukocyte subpopulations and their activities by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific to porcine leukocyte differentiation antigens and flow cytometry.
The results obtained as follows.
1. Total weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion rate for 10 days were significantly improved to 56%, 20% and 22% in the piglets fed plasma protein, respectively.
2. A significant increase in N (null or non T/non B) cells was also noticed. Leukocyte proportion from piglets fed plasma protein was 20.2-24.7%, otherwise that from piglets fed without plasma protein was 12.3-13.4%, respectively.
3. A significant increase in the proportion of B cells and cells expressing poCDl was not found in piglets fed plasma protein.
4. Reaction with monoclonal antibodies specific to adhesion molecules, poCDlla, poCDllb, poCD44 and poCD45A and poCD45B, has shown that leukocyte subpopulation from piglets fed plasma protein did not significantly higher than that from piglets fed without plasma protein.
5. Total proportion of granulocytes and monocytes was about 50% in both group and the proportion after treated with Hypaque/Ficoll was 2.7% and 5.8% in each group, respectively.
|