The role of IL-10 in iNOS and cytokine mRNA expression during in vitro differentiation of bovine mononuclear phagocytes.

In the study reported here, we used RT-PCR with primers specific for interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to assess the cytokine mRNA expression associated with bovine blood monocytes during their differentiation to macrophages cultured on plastic (1 week). In addition, we used RT-PCR to assess the contribution of gammadelta T cells as a source of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the induction signal for iNOS. Further, we evaluated cytocentrifuge preparations from the cultures for the production of IL-10 using specific antibody. We previously demonstrated that iNOS can be induced in cultured bovine monocytes in response to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha but lose this capability in a short period of time. However, we demonstrate here that iNOS induction from monocytes cultured with IFN-gamma secreting gammadelta T cells is prolonged, suggesting that this source of IFN-gamma primes the monocytes before exogenous stimulation. Based on mRNA expression, placement of monocytes in culture resulted in activation, followed by quiescence. By 6 days in culture, the iNOS message was reduced below the basal level. In addition, the TNF-alpha message was substantially reduced, and IL-1 and IL-6 messages were reduced below detectable levels. This correlated with an increase in IL-10 message. Downregulation of these same cytokine messages as well as IFN-gamma message occurred within a 20-h period when IL-10 was added exogenously to cultures of total leukocytes. At the same time, there was an increase in the number of IL-10-positive cells and an increase in the intensity of anti-IL-10 staining within adherent cells. These results provide evidence for IL-10 regulation of some bovine mononuclear phagocyte effector functions.

Experimental infection of cattle with the agents of transmissible mink encephalopathy and scrapie.

Cattle are susceptible to experimental infection with the Stetsonville isolate of the transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) agent. To determine if they are susceptible to other TME isolates, two groups of calves were inoculated intracerebrally with homogenate of mink brain containing the Hayward isolate or the Blackfoot isolate. For comparison, a third group was inoculated with a brain homogenate from a steer infected with the Stetsonville isolate in its primary cattle passage and a fourth group was inoculated with a pool of brain homogenate from three cattle experimentally infected with a sheep and goat scrapie agent in its primary cattle passage. Clinical signs of neurological disease appeared in each steer of every group between 15 and 25 months after inoculation. An encephalopathy characterized by severe spongiform change and pronounced astrocytosis occurred in the three groups inoculated with the TME agent. In contrast, the neurohistological changes in the steers inoculated with the cattle-passaged scrapie agent were slight and subtle. Analysis of the octapeptide repeat region of the bovine protease-resistant protein (PrP) gene showed that variations in incubation period, clinical signs, and neurohistological changes were unrelated to the homozygous or heterozygous condition of six or six/five octapeptide repeats.

Verapamil effects on physiological and behavioral responses to ethanol in the rat.

Experiments were performed to determine the ability of verapamil to reverse ethanol-induced hypothermia and behavioral changes. Permanent cannulae for intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion were implanted bilaterally in rats following standard stereotaxic procedures. Following post-operative recovery, either verapamil or artificial cerebral spinal fluid (ACSF) was infused i.c.v., followed by 4.0 g/kg ethanol in saline administered by intragastric gavage. Changes in body temperature and overall activity were monitored. In another series of experiments, rats were given either i.c.v. verapamil or ACSF followed by 1.5 g/kg intraperitoneal ethanol. Ability to turn over and open-field activity were monitored. In addition, to investigate the action of verapamil alone on body temperature, rats were infused i.c.v. either with verapamil or control ACSF, followed by intragastric administration of a volume of saline equal to 4.0 g/kg ethanol (20% v/v). At an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C, verapamil, infused prior to ethanol administration, significantly and rapidly attenuated the thermolytic action of ethanol. Central administration of verapamil alone did not induce a significant change in body temperature until more than 1.5 hr after injection, at which time temperature began to gradually increase. Pretreatment with verapamil induced significantly faster recovery from ethanol-induced changes in overall activity. Only a non-significant reversal of ethanol's effects on open-field activity and time taken to turn over occurred. These results demonstrate that verapamil can significantly antagonize ethanol-induced hypothermia and possibly motor disturbances in rats, leading us to postulate the possible involvement of neuronal Ca2+ channels in these effects of ethanol.