Effects of Steroids on Bovine T-Lymphocyte Blastogenesis in Vitro2

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Abstract
Day 13 to 24 bovine concetuses convert C-19 and C-21 neutral steroids to 5β-reduced steroids with great efficiency. Pregnancy steroids have been reported to be immunomodulatory in several species. This study examined the possibility that 5β-reduced products of bovine conceptus steroid metablism, precursors, related steroids, progesterone or cortisol might affect bovine T-cell blastogenesis. The steroids tested were 5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, androstene-3, 17-dione, 5β-androstan-3α-ol-17-one, cortisol, progesterone, 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione and 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol. The ability of each steroid, over a dose range of 10-2 to 104 nM, to affect phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced or concanavalin A (Con A)-induced bovine T cell blastogenesis, or the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was evaluated. Five lactating Holstein cows served as lymphocyte donors for mitogen studies and two, that exhibited strong MLR, were donors forthe MLR evaluation. Of the seven steroids tested none affected blastogenesis in a dose-related manner except for cortisol, which suppressed Con A-induced lymphocyte transformation as well as the MLR. Cortisol did not affect PHA-induced blastogenesis. Thus, of the pregnancy steroids tested at the concentrations noted, none had significant immunomodulatory effects. Copyright © 1982. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1982 by American Society of Animal Science.

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