title: Evaluation of immune system function in neonatal pigs born vaginally or by Cesarean section.
abstract: Full term crossbred sows were selected to study the interaction of the immune system, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and growth in pigs born by Cesarean section (c-section; n=4 sows) or vaginal birth (n=4 sows). Gestation length and birth weight did not differ between vaginal birth and c-section pigs (P=0.34 and 0.62, respectively). Blood and tissue samples were collected from 44 pigs at birth. Forty-five pigs were weaned at 13 d. On d 14, pigs received an i.p. injection of lipopolysaccaride (LPS; 150 microg/kg) or saline at min 0, and blood samples were collected at -20, -10, 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min. Vaginal birth pigs had 21% greater average daily gain than c-section pigs on d 14 (P<0.01). Basal serum concentrations of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol were greater in c-section than vaginal birth pigs at birth (P<0.01) but were not different at 14 d (P=0.99 and 0.80, respectively). LPS increased serum concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; P<0.01) but the response was not different between c-section and vaginal birth (P>0.22). Basal serum concentrations of TNF-alpha tended to be greater in c-section vs vaginal birth pigs at 14 d (P=0.0967); however, basal serum concentrations of IFN-gamma tended to be lower in c-section pigs vs vaginal birth pigs at 14 d (P=0.0787). Expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-6 receptor, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha mRNA did not differ between vaginal birth and c-section pigs but changed in an age and tissue dependent manner. Thus, reduced growth rate of c-section pigs is associated with altered immune system function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Berry College, PO Box 495003, Mount Berry, GA 30149, United States.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Keisler
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone