Cytokine Profile of Sows under Effects of Inflammatory Processes in Reproductive Organs

Resumo

The cytokine levels in the blood of sows during the gestation and lactation periods have been defined in an experiment with 20 healthy animals that were at risk of progressive inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs. The sows were divided into two groups of ten each. Significant differences between the levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the sows exposed to the inflammatory risk factors when compared with that in the control animals were revealed. The cytokine profiles in sows during early gestation and in the second half of pregnancy were characterized by the predominance of producing IL-1α and IL-4 and the reduction in producing IFN-γ. In late pregnancy, the increased syntheses of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ were observed. With respect to the third to fourth day of lactation, the cytokine stimulated the IL-1α, IL-4, and IFN-γ production. Before weaning the piglets, the production of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ was enhanced. The ascertained values for the cytokine levels are recommended to be used for risk predicting and diagnosing the inflammatory disease processes in the reproductive organs.