Sexually dimorphic innate immunological responses of pre-pubertal Brahman cattle following an intravenous lipopolysaccharide challenge

Jeffery A. Carroll, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Lindsey E. Hulbert, Michael A. Ballou, Jeffery W. Dailey, Lisa C. Caldwell, Rhonda C. Vann, Thomas H. Welsh, Ronald D. Randel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was designed to characterize potential sexually dimorphic immunological responses following a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in beef cattle. Six female (heifers) and five male (bulls) Brahman calves (average age. =. 253. ±. 19.9 and 288. ±. 47.9 days; average body weight. =. 194. ±. 11. kg and 247. ±. 19. kg for heifers and bulls, respectively) were challenged with LPS (0.25. μg LPS/kg body weight). Following administration of LPS, all cattle displayed increased sickness behavior beginning at 0.5. h, with heifers on average displaying less sickness behavior than bulls. A febrile response was observed in all animals following LPS administration, with a maximum response observed from 4 to 5.5. h. The average rectal temperature response was greater in heifers than bulls. In all cattle there were elevated serum concentrations of cortisol from 0.5 to 8. h, TNF-α from 1 to 2.5. h, IL-6 from 2 to 8. h, and IFN-γ from 2.5 to 7. h after LPS challenge. Additionally, serum concentrations of TNF-α were greater in heifers than bulls from 1.5 to 2. h after the LPS challenge. Concentrations of IFN-γ were also greater on average in bulls than heifers. Leukopenia occurred from 1 to 8. h, with a decreased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for the first 5. h among all calves. These data demonstrate the existence of a sexually dimorphic acute-phase response in pre-pubertal Brahman calves. Specifically, heifers may have a more robust acute response to LPS challenge, even though bulls display more signs of sickness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)108-115
Number of pages8
JournalVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume166
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2015

Keywords

  • Cattle
  • Cortisol
  • Innate immunity
  • Lipopolysaccharide
  • Sexual dimorphism

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