PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES FROM BOVINE MAMMARY GLAND LEUKOCYTES INFLUENCED BY BACTERIAL INFECTION

The objective of this trial was to study the inflammatory cytokines, which are produced by bovine mammary gland leukocytes. The leukocytes were obtained by mammary gland lavage and incubated for 1, 2 and 18 hours with lipopolysaccharide (50 mu g/ml) or with muramyldipeptide (500 mu g/ml) in vitro. LPS was used as a toxin of Gram-negative bacteria, and muramyldipeptide as a structural unit of a peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria. The concentration levels of these cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. Eight clinically healthy crossbred heifers (Holstein x Czech Pied) were selected for this study. The heifers were group housed in a tie-stall barn and fed a total mixed diet. The IL-1 beta concentration level was higher for lipopolysacharide incubation than for muramyldipeptide incubation. The production of IL-1 beta started 2 hours following the cell incubation with lipopolysacharide. The production of IL-1 beta started 18 hours following the cell incubation with muramyldipeptide. The production of IL-4 started 1, 2, and 18 hours following the cell incubation with both bacteria components. Higher IL-4 concentration was recorded for lipopolysacharide incubation.