Concentrations of corticosteroids, leukocytes, and immunoglobulins in blood and milk after administration of ACTH to lactating dairy cattle: effects on phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

A study was conducted to determine relationships among plasma and milk corticosteroids, milk immunoglobulins, and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) isolated from milk of cows given injections of 0 (saline solution only), 100, and 200 IU of ACTH. Also determined were the effects of ACTH on mobilization of PMN into milk from the mammary gland irritated by infusion of 100 ml of saline solution containing 0.1% oyster glycogen. Cows (n = 10) were injected 6 times within a 48-hour period with 0, 100, or 200 IU of ACTH. Immediately before cows were given the 5th injection, 2 mammary quarters were infused with the saline-glycogen solution. Five hours after the 6th injection, milk from infused quarters was collected, and PMN were isolated, washed, and resuspended in autologous skimmed milk collected 5 hours after the 4th injection and before the udder was infused. Isolated PMN were incubated with S aureus and percentage of phagocytosis was determined. Concentrations of total corticosteroids in plasma and milk increased after cows were given injections of 100 and 200 IU of ACTH. The concentrations of IgA, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and bovine serum albumin in milk after 4 injections of 0, 100, and 200 IU of ACTH were similar to preinjection (base line) concentrations. Injections of 100 and 200 IU of ACTH significantly increased the concentrations of total circulating leukocytes. Concentrations of leukocytes in milk tended to increased with increasing doses of ACTH, but the differences were not significant. Injection of 100 and 200 IU of ACTH reduced phagocytosis of S aureus by PMN. After 60 minutes of incubation, phagocytosis averaged 57% and 54%, respectively, for the ACTH treatments and 70% for controls (saline only). Results indicate that injections of ACTH that result in physiologic and pharmacologic plasma concentrations of corticosteroids inhibit phagocytosis. Impairment of phagocytosis appeared to be a direct effect of corticosteroid concentration o PMN and was not due to reduced concentrations of immunolobulins. These data indicate that reduced phagocytosis by PMN could be important in increased susceptibility to disease during stress in lactating dairy cows.