title: Increase in C-reactive protein in the serum of piglets (pCRP) following ACTH or corticosteroid administration.
abstract: A new isolation procedure for porcine C-reactive protein (pCRP) by affinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography is described. Antisera against this protein were raised in rabbits. Immunochemical methods indicate a close immunological relationship of pCRP to human CRP (hCRP). The molecular weight of one subunit of pCRP was determined to be 23,400 Da by SDS-PAGE. Measurements of serum concentration of pCRP by competitive ligand assay and radial immunodiffusion showed a good correlation. Normal values of healthy pigs, kept under good conditions, were 8.35 mg/l with a normal range up to 16.8 mg/l (3 x SD). ACTH or prednisolone were applicated to piglets daily for a period of 2 weeks and the pCRP concentration in serum was measured. There was a strong pCRP elevation during the application period in comparison to a control group. When the stimulus disappeared, the values declined to normal. In the absence of infections and inflammations, the pCRP appears to be a valuable parameter for following the effects of stress on animals.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Charité, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bürger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ewald
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fennert
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000662:veterinary; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000662:veterinary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone