title: Opsonic activity in mammary secretion and serum of gilts during the lactation period.
abstract: Opsonic activity was studied in mammary secretion and serum during lactation in four healthy gilts. The opsonic activity was determined as peak chemiluminescence and time to peak chemiluminescence in a luminol enhanced chemiluminescence assay. The peak chemiluminescence was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in mammary secretion around parturition than later in lactation. No changes in the opsonic activity were seen in serum during lactation. Overall, the peak chemiluminescence and time to peak chemiluminescence were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) and shorter (p less than 0.05) respectively, in serum than in mammary secretion. The present study indicates that the opsonic activity is highest in mammary secretion around parturition but decreases later in lactation, and that this change is confined to the mammary gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Tsuma
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Magnusson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009895:Opsonin Proteins