title: In vitro effects of beta-carotene and vitamin A on peripartum bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation.
abstract: The effects of beta-carotene, retinol, and retinoic acid on function of mononuclear cells during the peripartum period was assessed in vitro. Blood was collected from 14 Holstein cows on wk -4, -1, 0, 1, and 4 postpartum, and mononuclear cells were obtained by gradient centrifugation. Mononuclear cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A was measured in the presence of beta-carotene, retinol (1 x 10(-9) and 1 x 10(-8) M), and retinoic acid (1 x 10(-10) and 1 x 10(-9) M). Retinol and beta-carotene had no effect on spontaneous cell proliferation, whereas retinoic acid was suppressive. However, 1 x 10(-9) M beta-carotene enhanced concanavalin A-induced proliferation at wk -1, whereas 1 x 10(-8) M beta-carotene was suppressive at wk -4. Retinoic acid suppressed concanavalin A-induced proliferation at wk 0, but retinol had no effect. These results suggest a mechanism by which beta-carotene affords the mammary gland protection against infection immediately prepartum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6320.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Tjoelker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D014212:Tretinoin