Serum protein concentrations, including acute phase proteins, in calves with hepatogenous photosensitization

J.J Fagliari,S.L Silva,M Passipieri,P.C Silva,H.T Okuda

doi:10.1590/s0102-09352007000600001

Abstract

One hundred 6- to 12-month-old Nelore calves were allotted into control group (G1; 50 healthy calves) and photosensitization group (G2; n= 50). Blood samples were collected 12 to 24 hours after the onset of dermatitis (M1), and 15 to 30 days after that (M2), at time of resolution of clinical signs. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Eighteen serum proteins with molecular weights ranging from 16,000 to 189,000 daltons (Da) were identified in all calves. In M1 and M2 serum concentrations of proteins with molecular weights of 115,000Da (ceruloplasmin), 61,000Da (a1-antitrypsin), 45,000Da (haptoglobin), and 40,000Da (acid glycoprotein) were significantly increased in calves. In conclusion, measurement of serum acute phase protein concentrations may be useful in monitoring the progression of bovine hepatogenous photosensitization, including guide probable alteration on therapeutic procedures.

Highlights

Bovine hepatogenous photosensitization has been reported in Brazil since 1975 (Dobereiner et al, 1976)
As bovine hepatogenous photosensitization is an inflammatory condition, it is likely to induce changes in the serum concentration of acute phase proteins that could be identified by means of electrophoresis
Serum concentrations of proteins with molecular weights of 115,000Da, 61,000Da (α1-antitrypsin), 45,000Da, and 40,000Da were significantly increased in calves with hepatogenous photosensitization compared with concentrations in control calves (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Bovine hepatogenous photosensitization has been reported in Brazil since 1975 (Dobereiner et al, 1976). As bovine hepatogenous photosensitization is an inflammatory condition, it is likely to induce changes in the serum concentration of acute phase proteins that could be identified by means of electrophoresis. Cellulose acetate (Fagliari et al, 1991) and agarose gel electrophoresis (Keay and Doxey, 1982) have been used to analyze plasma protein concentrations, but these techniques are limited, because they can identify only 5 to 7 groups of proteins. The technique has been used to analyze plasma or serum protein concentrations (Coyne et al, 1990; Fagliari et al., 2003) but has not been previously used to determine changes in serum protein concentrations associated with hepatogenous photosensitization

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