Age-related changes in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in the piglet

Changes in concentration of plasma cortisol, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the phagocytic and killing abilities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were assessed in 24 crossbred piglets at .5, 1, 3 and 6 wk of age. Concentrations of blood cortisol were high at birth but decreased (P less than .001) thereafter. Spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation was approximately 10-fold higher in the newborn than in pigs 6 wk old. The methods by which data on lymphocyte proliferation were expressed greatly influenced the results of the age-related changes in lymphocyte response. When lymphocyte proliferation was expressed as a stimulation index, there was an increase in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation with advancing age. However, when lymphocyte proliferation was expressed as total counts per minute, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation decreased with increasing age. In general, no significant age-related changes were observed in PMN function except for a transient decrease in PMN phagocytic ability at wk 3. Piglets were born with high concentrations of blood cortisol; this was associated with age-related changes in lymphocyte proliferation.