title: Vitamin concentration and function of leukocytes from dairy calves supplemented with vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta-carotene in vitro.
abstract: Blood neutrophils and pulmonary alveolar macrophages, isolated from calves at 3 and 6 wk of age, were cultured in medium without added vitamins or supplemented with 100 micrograms/dl of vitamin A, 1000 micrograms/dl of vitamin E, 100 micrograms/dl of vitamin A plus 1000 micrograms/dl of vitamin E, or .25 micrograms/dl of beta-carotene plus 1000 micrograms/dl of vitamin E. Macrophage bactericidal activity improved with supplementation of vitamins A plus E compared with supplementation of beta-carotene plus E or vitamin E at wk 3. Neutrophil bactericidal activity decreased with all vitamin E treatments at wk 3 and with vitamins E or A plus E at wk 6. Neutrophil phagocytosis improved at wk 3 with supplementations of vitamins A, E, and A plus E. The chemotactic index improved with beta-carotene and vitamin E compared with vitamin E alone at wk 3 and at wk 6 with vitamin E compared with vitamin A and control treatments. Retinol content of neutrophils varied at wk 3, but, by wk 6, cells supplemented with vitamins A, E, or A plus E had greater retinol concentrations than control cells. Neutrophil alpha-tocopherol concentrations at wk 3 increased from those of controls with supplementation of vitamin E or beta-carotene and vitamin E, but, at wk 6, vitamin E-supplemented cells were different only from vitamin A-supplemented cells. These data suggest that optimal plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E exist for leukocyte function.
authors.affiliation: Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Eicher
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Morrill
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D005527:Food, Fortified; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids