title: Unchanged interleukin 6 level of protein and energy restricted goats during late gestation: the role of elevated blood nitric oxide.
abstract: Twelve pregnant goats were assigned to three dietary treatments during late gestation, namely control (C: metabolizable energy, 5.75 MJ/kg; crude protein, 12.6% and dry matter basis), 40% protein restricted (PR) and 40% energy restricted (ER), to examine the effects of nutrient restriction on the immune status of pregnant goats. Plasma was sampled on day 90, 125 and 145 from pregnant goats to determine cytokine production (interleukin 2 (IL2), IL6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained on day 145 and activated by lipopolysaccharide to determine cytokine production, and then exposed (PR and ER) to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, or control to NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME), an NO synthase inhibitor to explore the role of NO in regulating cytokine production. Plasma IL2, IL6 and TNFα were not altered during gestation, but NO was increased (P<0.05) at gestation day 145 for PR and ER. In vitro, compared with control, NO was lower for PR and ER (P<0.001), but IL6 was higher for PR (P<0.001) and ER (P=0.11). The addition of SNP decreased IL6 (P<0.001, PR; P=0.12, ER) in the malnourished group, and l-NAME increased (P<0.001) IL6 in control compared to those treatments without SNP or l-NAME. The results indicate that plasma NO acted as a regulator of cytokine function exhibiting negative feedback to maintain steady plasma IL6 concentration in PR or ER goats during late gestation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhixiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Beauchemin
authors.forename: Shaoxun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Chuanshe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Duanqin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester