Removal of nocturnal secretion of melatonin fails to reduce antibody synthesis and interleukin-2 production of lambs.

Crossbred ewe and wether lambs were used to evaluate the effects of a normal, nocturnal elevation in the concentration of melatonin in the serum on immunological functions. The nocturnal elevation in melatonin was eliminated by exposing half the lambs to constant light (LL), whereas the remainder received a 12-h light, 12-h dark cycle (LD). Immune function was challenged by treating half the lambs in LL and half of the lambs in LD with dexamethasone (DEX; .04 mg/kg); the remainder of the lambs received only a saline vehicle (SAL). The resulting treatment combinations were designated LD+SAL (n = 5), LD+DEX (n = 5), LL+SAL (n = 5), and LL+DEX (n = 5). Lambs were stanchioned individually in environmental rooms; photoperiod treatments commenced on that day (d -14). Also on d -14, lambs were given 1 mg ovalbumin/lamb in adjuvant. Lambs were given a booster injection of .5 mg ovalbumin/lamb on d 0. Treatments with DEX and SAL also began on d 0 and were repeated every 48 h through d 14. Catheters were placed in the jugular vein of all lambs on d 12; samples of plasma and serum were collected hourly from 0800 on d 14 to 0800 on d 15; plasma was assayed for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum was assayed for cortisol and melatonin. In addition, samples of serum obtained at 0800 on d 15 were used to evaluate antibody titers to ovalbumin. Samples of whole blood also were obtained at 0800 on d 15, and total and differential leukocyte numbers and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by lymphocytes were determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)