Response of mononuclear cells to recombinant bovine interleukin‐1βduring the non‐lactating period

Abstract

Interleukin‐1 has been shown to play a critical role in the initial stages of lymphocyte proliferation. Recombinant bovine interleukin‐1 may be useful as an immunoenhancer of bovine mammary gland mononuclear cells to enhance resistance of the mammary gland to infection during the non‐lactating period. The objective of this study was to determine if recombinant bovine interleukin‐1β influenced proliferation of blood and mammary gland mononuclear cells obtained during the non‐lactating period. Bovine mononuclear cells were isolated from five primiparous Holstein cows at 14–18 and 28–32 days of involution, and 7–13 days prior to parturition. Proliferation of mononuclear cells in response to recombinant bovine interleukin‐1β was evaluated in the presence and absence of suboptimal concentrations of concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen. Varying concentrations (0.78–25 ng ml−1) of recombinant bovine interleukin‐1β did not influence blood or mammary gland mononuclear cell proliferation in the presence or absence o...