title: Enhancement of humoral and cellular immunity by vitamin E after embryonic exposure.
abstract: In the present study, the amnion of turkey and chicken embryos were injected 3 d prior to hatch with different levels of vitamin E (VE). In Experiments 1 and 2, turkey embryos received 10, 20, and 30 IU of VE. In Experiment 3, broiler embryos received 10 IU VE. In all three experiments, sham-injected control embryos (0 IU VE) received 300 microL of saline. In Experiments 1 and 2 (turkey embryos), 20 and 30 IU of VE reduced (P < or = 0.05) percentage hatchability below that of controls. At hatch, poults exhibited a dose related increase (P < 0.05) in plasma VE levels. Mean BW gain up to 35 d and relative bursa of Fabricius and spleen weights were not different among treatment groups. When challenged at 7 d posthatch, total (P < 0.05) and IgM (P < 0.08) anti-SRBC antibodies were higher in 10 IU VE poults than in controls. Immunoglobulin G levels did not differ among the treatment groups. Poults in the 10 IU VE group had higher (P < 0.002) numbers of Sephadex-elicited inflammatory exudate cells, as well as a greater percentage of phagocytic macrophages (P < 0.0001). Additionally, the numbers of SRBC per phagocytic macrophage were greater (P < 0.001), than in control poults at 4 wk of age. In Experiment 3, chick embryos exposed to 10 IU VE, exhibited no differences in hatchability, BW gain, or bursal and splenic weights from the sham-exposed group. However, total and IgM antibody responses against SRBC were greater (P < 0.01) in the 10 IU VE group at 7 d postinjection. A secondary SRBC challenge given at 14 d after primary injection resulted in higher total (P < 0.07) and IgG (P < 0.04) antibody responses in the 10 IU VE chicks than in the controls. Similarly, broiler chicks (10 IU VE) had more Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate cells (P < 0.07), and greater macrophage phagocytic potential (P < 0.0001). In ovo VE exposure (10 IU) also increased nitrite production (P < 0.04) by chick macrophages. The results from this study demonstrated an enhanced antibody and macrophage response and suggest that in ovo exposure with VE may improve posthatch poult and broiler quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Qureshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D014810:Vitamin E