title: Physiologic and immune responses associated with 48-hour fast of pigs.
abstract: We sought to determine the effect of 48 hours of fasting on physiologic and immune responses of pigs. Sixteen crossbred barrows, approximately 8 weeks of age, were housed in a controlled environment (21 degrees C, 45% RH) with feed and water ad libitum. After 10 days, eight pigs were fasted for 48 hours with water available ad libitum; the remaining eight received feed and water ad libitum. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture before fasting, at the end of 48-hour fasting, and 3 and 10 days later. No significant differences in responses to mitogens PHA or Con A were noted in whole blood or isolated lymphocyte cultures. Changes in numbers of leukocytes, neutrophils, and serum cortisol concentrations, but not of lymphocytes, were significant. The results suggested that short-term fasting transiently reduces the number of neutrophils and increases serum cortisol concentrations, with no effect on blastogenic responses of lymphocytes to selected mitogens.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niwano
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005215:Fasting; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone