title: Effect of bovine interferon on acute changes in body temperature and serum progesterone concentrations in heifers.
abstract: Bovine interferon-alpha I1 has extensive sequence and functional homology with the antiluteolytic protein, bovine trophoblast protein-1. Because of the possible use of interferon-alpha I1 as a drug that supplements embryonic secretion of bovine trophoblast protein-1, interferon-alpha I1 was tested for other biological actions that might affect its usefulness as a fertility-enhancing treatment. Experiments were performed to evaluate whether interferon-alpha I1 causes hyperthermia and an acute depression in circulating concentrations of progesterone. In four experiments, intramuscular administration of interferon-alpha I1 (range 1.25 to 20 mg) caused hyperthermia; average peak body temperatures of 40 to 40.4 degrees C occurred 2.5 to 6 h after injection. Temperatures returned to baseline 12 to 16 h later. The rise in rectal temperature could be reduced, but not totally alleviated, with concomitant administration of an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. The maximal hyperthermic response was similar when interferon-alpha I1 was delivered via osmotic minipumps or through a series of intramuscular injections. The hyperthermic response decreased with repeated daily exposure to interferon-alpha I1. The increase in rectal temperatures was associated temporally with a decrease in serum progesterone. Effects of interferon-alpha I1 on body temperature and circulating progesterone could possibly limit its effectiveness in enhancing fertility.
authors.affiliation: Dairy Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinod
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siegenthaler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Voirol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003002:Clonixin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000662:veterinary; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; C014558:flunixin meglumine; D003002:Clonixin