title: Effects of dexamethasone on peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotype in weanling piglets.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone treatment on the immune system of weanling piglets. Piglets were administered dexamethasone (DEX; 1mg/kg, IM) every 12h for 2 consecutive days (short-term experiment) or DEX (1mg/kg, IM) daily for 2 weeks (long-term experiment). The relative percentage of CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in both short- and long-term DEX-treated groups compared to their control groups. The percentage of IgM(+) cells in PBMCs of the long-term DEX-treated group was greatly increased (P<0.05) in comparison to the control group. The results of this study indicate that short-term DEX-treatment increases leucocyte function; however, long-term DEX-treatment depresses leucocyte function, especially that of CD8(+) T cells.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Rd, Taichung 402, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000662:veterinary; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D003907:Dexamethasone