title: Serum interleukin-6 concentrations in endotoxin-infused neonatal foals.
abstract: Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was measured in 11 colostrum-fed (CF) and 8 colostrum-deprived (CD) 2- to 3-day-old foals after foals were infused with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin, 0.5 microgram/kg of body weight in sterile saline [0.9% NaCl] solution). Four CF and 2 CD foals were given saline solution alone. Serum IL-6 concentration was estimated by use of an in vitro proliferative bioassay, using the IL-6 dependent B.13.29 clone 9 cells. Interleukin-6 concentration increased in all LPS-infused foals, and geometric mean serum IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in CF than CD foals 30 and 90 minutes after infusion. Both LPS-infused groups had multiple spikes of mean IL-6 concentration that peaked at 120 minutes in CF foals and 150 minutes in CD foals. Results indicated that IL-6 is produced in neonatal foals in response to LPS infusion. Furthermore, colostrum deprivation resulted in longer times to peak mean serum IL-6 concentration and tended to reduce serum IL-6 concentration in neonatal foals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Loch
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides