title: Effects of low-dose dexamethasone on thymus morphology and immunological parameters in veal calves.
abstract: Glucocorticoids are often illegally used in association with anabolic steroids as growth promoters in veal calves and beef production. An experimental administration of dexamethasone was carried out in veal calves in order to assess the role of low doses of exogenous glucocorticoids on induction of thymus atrophy and on the immune response. Three groups of five veal calves each were included in this study: group D was administered 0.4 mg/day of dexamethasone-21-phosphate per os for 25 days; group V was administered 2 mg of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate i.m. at days 14 and 21, and group K served as control. At slaughter, the weight of the thymus was severely reduced in group D and in group V, compared with control animals. Lesions included severe lymphoid depletion and hyperplasia of adipose tissue. In situ evaluation of apoptosis in thymus, showed a reduction of the percentage of positive nuclear areas of animals belonging to group V in comparison with control animals. An overall decrease of lymphocyte proliferative response was detected after treatment with short acting dexamethasone, while antibody response was not affected by treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, University of Turin, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy. bartolomeo.biolatti@unito.it
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biolatti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bollo
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Cannizzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zancanaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarantola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dacasto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantiello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carletti
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Biolatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbarino
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003907:Dexamethasone