title: Immune response and milk production of dairy cows fed graded levels of rumen-protected glutamine.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with glutamine on the immune function and milk production of dairy cows. The experiment involved 24 Friesian cows, divided into three groups of eight each, according to the level of rumen-protected glutamine supplementation: a diet with no supplementation (Control), a diet supplemented with 160 g/day/cow (G160) and a diet supplemented with 320 g/day/cow (G320). At 0, 30, and 60 days of the experiment, lymphocyte response to phytohemoagglutinin (PHA) was determined in vivo for each animal. Humoral response to chicken egg albumin (OVA) and interleukin - (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 plasma levels were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days. Results demonstrate that supplementing 160 g/day/cow of glutamine can modulate immune responses of dairy cows and enhance the amino acid profile of cow milk.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Production and Innovation in Mediterranean Agriculture and Food Systems (PRIME), University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. m.caroprese@unifg.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caroprese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albenzio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sevi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D005973:Glutamine; D016753:Interleukin-10