Levamisole and its influence on the immune response of lambs.
Ten parasite-free lambs were drenched with 8 mg/kg of levamisole on days 0 and 28 and were injected with human erythrocytes and ovalbumin one day after each drench. Ten other antigen-injected lambs were not drenched with anthelmintic as controls. Lymphocytes from the control and drenched lambs were cultured in vitro with RPMI 1640 plus 5% fetal calf serum (FCS), with 50% autologous serum only, with concanavalin A (Con A) or with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Decreased blastogenesis was observed in cells from the drenched lambs cultured in the presence or absence of mitogen and was most obvious when 50% autologous serum was used, particularly with PHA, and when lymphocytes were collected 3 and 7 days after the first and 3 days after the second antigen injection. There were no significant changes in antibody titres between the groups. Decreased serum complement activity was seen 3 days after the second antigen injection in the drenched lambs. Although there was a significant reduction in the serum insulin-like growth factor I levels 4 days after each levamisole drench, the drenched lambs gained significantly more weight than the non-drenched control lambs.
Cabaj
W
W
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
Stankiewicz
M
M
Jonas
W E
WE
Moore
L G
LG
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007978:Levamisole / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007978:Levamisole; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone