論文ID: 11-0364
Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from the uterus of a thoroughbred mare with bacterial endometritis was used to evaluate the effect of progesterone (P4) on the immune response of mares. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 10 non-pregnant clinically-healthy adult mares (range, 4–12 years) during diestrus, four thoroughbreds, and six Hokkaido native horses. Cell proliferation and expression of cytokine mRNA, including interferon (IFN)-γ tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10 of PBMCs stimulated with E. coli and P4 were examined in vitro. P4 was shown to have significantly inhibited E. coli induced proliferation and expression of IFN-γ of PBMCs. These results indicate that P4 inhibits the immune response to E. coli in mares.
