Effect of vitamin E supplementation on various functional properties of macrophages and neutrophils obtained from weaned piglets.
Sixteen piglets were used to determine the effect of vitamin E supplementation on several functional properties of macrophages and neutrophils obtained from weaned piglets. Piglets, immediately following weaning, were assigned to one of three experimental groups: control (no vitamin E supplementation), low level of vitamin E supplementation (100 mg DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet) and high level of vitamin E supplementation (300 mg DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet). Supplementation of vitamin E lasted for a period of 36 days, following a 3-day adaptation period after weaning. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 12, 24 and 36 of the experimental period, monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils were isolated and the following parameters were determined in macrophages and neutrophils activated by phorbol myristate acetate: total cell-associated and membrane-bound urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity and superoxide anion production. Results showed that macrophages and neutrophils isolated from piglets that received supplemental vitamin E had higher (P < 0.05) total and membrane-bound u-PA activities as well as higher (P < 0.05) superoxide anion production compared with the values of the corresponding cells obtained from control piglets on day 12 of the experimental period. Both levels of vitamin E supplementation (low and high) were equally effective. In contrast, vitamin E supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on total and membrane-bound u-PA activities and superoxide anion production by porcine macrophages and neutrophils on days 24 and 36 of the experimental period. In conclusion, the low level of vitamin E supplementation is recommended for piglets for the first 2 weeks after weaning.
Fragou
S
S
Department of Animal Production, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Fegeros
K
K
Xylouri
E
E
Baldi
A
A
Politis
I
I
D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D013552:Swine; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014810:Vitamin E; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator