DECREASED MONONUCLEAR CELL RESPONSE TO MITOGENS IN ARTIFICIALLY REARED NEONATAL PIGS

  • 1 October 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (4) , 522-525
Abstract
The influence of two rearing methods for neonatal pigs on mononuclear cell responses to mitogens was studied. Littermate pigs were reared artifically or on the sow. Artifically reared pigs displayed a leukocytosis (P < 0.05) characterized by an increase (P < 0.05) in mature and immature neutrophils. Skin-test responses to intradermal injections of phytohemagglutinin were less (P < 0.05) in artifically reared pigs than in sow-reared controls. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogenic stimulation were approximately 50% lower (P < 0.05) in artifically reared pigs than in sow-reared pigs. These data suggest that artificial rearing lowers in vivo and in vitro lymphocyte responses in neonatal pigs.