Follistatin has a biphasic response but follicle-stimulating hormone is unchanged during an inflammatory episode in growing lambs.

The effects on plasma follistatin concentrations of an inflammatory episode, induced by the intrathoracic injection of yeast, were examined in growing lambs; this model results in acute loss of appetite, food intake and liveweight and the activation of the acute-phase pathway for several weeks as adjudged by the production of haptoglobin and other acute-phase proteins. In these animals (n = 8) there was a biphasic response in follistatin concentrations, with an initial 200% increase (P < 0.001) in follistatin within 24 h of injection of yeast. Thereafter, follistatin concentrations were depressed to 70% of pretreatment levels 48 h after injection (P < 0.01), followed by a gradual recovery of concentrations to pretreatment values. In another group of lambs (n = 16) that were feed-restricted to mimic the reduced food intakes and liveweight changes in the yeast-injected group, plasma follistatin was also reduced to around 70% of pretreatment levels (P < 0.01) within 1 day of the dietary regimen being implemented, followed by a gradual return to pretreatment values as food intakes were increased. Plasma follistatin correlated significantly (r = 0.57, P < 0.0001) with food intake, but not with liveweight changes. Plasma follistatin concentrations were unchanged in a third group fed ad libitum (n = 8), except during two periods when food intakes were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced, when follistatin concentrations also decreased (P < 0.01). Plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations in the three groups of lambs were not significantly affected by the treatment regimes or changes in follistatin concentrations. These findings indicate that peripheral follistatin concentrations are modulated by both inflammatory and nutritional mechanisms, and that significant fluctuations in follistatin levels can occur without detectable perturbations in FSH secretion.

Pituitary and plasma levels of growth hormone in Booroola sheep that are either homozygous carriers or non-carriers of the FecBB fecundity gene.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the FecBB fecundity gene on plasma concentrations and pituitary content of growth hormone (GH) in sheep. No differences were found between homozygous carriers (BB) and non carriers (++) of the FecBB gene with regard to pituitary GH contents in both ovariectomized and intact ewes. However, ovariectomized ewes had higher levels of pituitary GH than intact ewes (P < 0.01). There were no differences between FecBB genotypes with respect to plasma concentrations of GH in 6-year-old ovariectomized ewes bled every 10 min for 12 h or in ram lambs bled weekly during their first year of life. GH levels in the rams decreased until week 27, increased to a peak at week 31 then decreased before increasing again at week 43. Mean plasma GH concentrations in the ewe lambs bled weekly for a year decreased until week 19 then remained at approximately this level for the remainder of the year. Mean GH plasma concentrations in the ram lambs were higher than in the ewe lambs (P < 0.001). Ewe lambs that were homozygous for the FecBB gene had lower body weights (P < 0.05) and had higher levels of GH (P < 0.01) than non carrier ewe lambs during their first year. Before the average age of first behavioural oestrus (36 weeks) GH levels in the ewe lambs were negatively correlated with body weights (r = -0.69, P < 0.001, n = 22). When body weight was included as a covariate in analysis of variance the genotype difference in ewe lamb plasma GH concentrations was no longer significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of an acute phase response in lambs causes an increase in plasma levels of GH and IGF-I.

GH and IGF-I plasma concentrations were measured in lambs during an acute phase response induced by an intrathoracic injection of yeast. The acute phase response was indicated by reduced feed intake, weight loss and an increase in plasma concentrations of the acute phase protein haptoglobin. Intensive blood sampling on day 1 revealed elevated basal concentrations of GH in the yeast-injected group compared with concentrations in pair weight and ad libitum fed control lambs. This suggests that at the beginning of an acute phase response there is an increase in either GH secretion or the half life of GH. No evidence of a specific GH-binding protein in sheep plasma could be detected. IGF-I concentrations in the yeast-injected group remained constant for 3 days then increased to a peak level at day 6. In contrast, plasma IGF-I concentrations were depressed from days 3 to 6 in the pair weight control group and they were unchanged in the ad libitum fed controls. When the IGF-I concentrations were elevated in the yeast-injected group, this group had a higher daily weight gain despite their lower feed intake compared with the ad libitum fed controls. These results suggest that IGF-I may be associated with the increase in weight in the late stage of an acute phase response during recovery from an infection or injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isolation, characterization and radioimmunoassay of luteinizing hormone in the brushtail possum.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) was purified from brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) pituitary glands. The purification procedure consisted of ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by triazinyl-dye chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration. A yield of 10 microg LH g-1 pituitary with a recovery of 20% was obtained from 1400 pituitary glands (20.3 g). Contamination with possum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was < or =0.05%. The amino acid analysis and the N-terminal sequencing for 10 cycles revealed close homology with LH from other mammals. Minor amounts of LH that had been truncated near the N-terminal were also detected. No contaminating proteins were found by amino acid sequencing. The potency of possum LH was 20% that of ovine LH in a receptor assay using possum testicular receptors and 4% that of ovine LH when bovine corpora lutea receptors were used. Possum LH was able to stimulate production of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate by bovine granulosa cells. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for possum LH using 125I-possum LH and an antiserum raised against ovine LH was developed. The RIA has a sensitivity of 0.15 ng mL-1, a 50% displacement of 1.9 ng mL-1 and a cross-reactivity of <0.02% against possum FSH. Plasma concentrations were 0.24+/-0.04 ng mL-1 (n = 8) and 0.39+/-0.12 ng mL-1 (n = 8) in female and male possums respectively. Administration of mammalian gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and chicken GnRH II stimulated increases in plasma LH concentrations in male and female possums. When comparing LH responses with administration of mammalian GnRH or chicken GnRH II, plasma LH concentrations remained elevated for a longer period of time in males than in females (P < 0.01); plasma LH concentrations also remained elevated for longer after mammalian GnRH than after chicken GnRH II (P < 0.01). Gonadectomy stimulated an increase in plasma concentrations of LH in both male (P < 0.01) and female (P < 0.05) possums. The rate of increase in plasma LH concentrations in males was faster than that in females. In summary, we have purified, partially characterized, and developed a RIA for possum LH.

Oxfendazole treatment of non-parasitized lambs and its effect on the immune system.

Ten parasite-free lambs were drenched with oxfendazole on days 0 and 28 and, one day after each drench, were injected with human erythrocytes and ovalbumin. Ten other antigen-injected lambs were not drenched (controls). Lymphocytes collected 3 days after each antigen injection and cultured in RPMI 1640 plus 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) and lymphocytes collected 3 days after the first and 3 and 7 days after the second antigen injection and cultured in 50% autologous serum had decreased blastogenic activity compared with control lymphocytes. After the second drench, decreased blastogenesis was seen with lymphocytes collected on days 3 and 7 and cultured in 5% FCS and concanavalin A (Con A) and on day 3 when cultured in 5% FCS and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Decreased blastogenesis was also seen with lymphocytes collected 7 and 29 days after the second injection of antigen and cultured in 50% autologous serum plus Con A and on days 3, 7 and 29 when cultured in 50% autologous serum and PHA. Significantly depressed antibody responses to both antigens were seen after the second drench. The serum complement level was depressed 3 days after the second injection of antigen. Serum nitric oxide levels were significantly depressed 3 and 21 days after the first and 7 and 21 days after the second injection of antigen. There were no differences in levels of growth-promoting hormones but the drenched lambs gained significantly more weight than the controls.