title: Effects of the ingestion of whole colostrum or cell-free colostrum on the capacity of leukocytes in newborn calves to stimulate or respond in one-way mixed leukocyte cultures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of colostral cells on the ability of neonatal leukocytes to respond in a mixed leukocyte response (MLR) as a means of evaluating specific immune responsiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 Holstein calves, their respective dams, and 10 unrelated adult Holstein cows.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soon after birth, their calves were fed maternal whole colostrum or colostrum after cells were removed by centrifugation. Responses for leukocytes obtained from calves during the first 5 weeks after birth, their dams, and unrelated cows were measured by use of 1-way MLR as an indicator of immune development. An internal control treatment, proliferation of lymphocytes stimulated with Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB), was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transfer of colostral leukocytes had a significant effect on the MLR and SEB-induced response in calves. Calves receiving whole colostrum had enhanced responses to maternal and unrelated leukocytes 24 hours after ingestion of colostrum. These responses decreased quickly, indicating direct modulation of the neonatal immune response. Calves receiving whole colostrum effectively stimulated the MLR by 24 hours after ingestion of colostrum. In contrast, calves receiving acellular colostrum did not effectively stimulate the MLR until 2 to 3 weeks after birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of maternal colostral leukocytes immediately after birth stimulates development of the neonatal immune system. These maternal leukocytes enhance development of antigen-presenting capacity as indicated by their ability to stimulate the MLR and SEB response. The influence of ingested maternal cells on neonatal immunity was also indicated by a reduction in reactivity of neonatal cells to maternal alloantigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reber
authors.forename: Arnold R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hippen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hurley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002474:Cell-Free System / Q000276:immunology; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal