Effect of the genetic selection of turkeys for increased body weight and egg production on immune and physiological responses

Selection of poultry for fast growth rate is often accompanied by a reduction in specific immune responses or increased disease susceptibility. In this study, 17-wk-old male turkeys from each of four closed genetic lines, a randombred control (RBC) line and its subline (F) selected for increased 16-wk BW, and another RBC and its subline (E) selected for increased egg production, were tested for in vivo response to toe web inoculation with phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), in vitro response of lymphocytes in whole blood to PHA-P and concanavalin A (Con A), hemolytic complement activity, differential white blood cell counts, hematology, and serum chemistry values. Fifteen male turkeys from each of two commercial lines, Com A and Com B, were also tested. The large-bodied F line birds had a lower toe web response to PHA-P, lower lymphocyte counts, and lower relative spleen weights than their smaller parent line. Body weights, total erythrocyte counts, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and in vitro mitogenic response to PHA-P and Con A were higher in the F line birds. Line E had lower hemolytic complement levels, lower relative spleen and relative bursal weights, and a higher in vitro mitogenic response to PHA-P than its parent line. The Com B line had a lower toe web response to PHA-P, and lower serum levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase and bilirubin than Com A. Line Com B had higher total RBC counts and higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) than Com A. These results support the concept that some changes in the cell-mediated immune response, as well as other physiological changes that may potentially affect immune response, appear to accompany selection for faster growth.

Immune and physiological responses of turkeys with green-liver osteomyelitis complex

A study of field turkeys was undertaken in order to determine the involvement of relative immunological differences in the etiology of turkey osteomyelitis complex (TOC). Lame and normal turkeys were sampled from commercial flocks just prior to processing in two separate trials. After testing for functions of both humoral and cellular immunity, the turkeys were necropsied and examined for lesions of TOC. There were significantly higher relative spleen and over weights and significantly lower body weights and relative bursal weights in birds with TOC. The birds with TOC had lower response to phytohemagglutinin-P in both in vivo and in vitro tests as well as lower circulating lymphocyte counts and higher monocyte, heterophil, and total white blood cell counts. There was a significantly higher antibody response to sheep red blood cells in turkeys with TOC, whereas antibody response to Salmonella pullorum antigen was not different. There were no significant differences in the percentages of mononuclear cells or heterophils able to phagocytize bacteria or latex particles, or kill bacteria; however, the heterophils from turkeys with TOC lesions did phagocytize significantly fewer latex particles per cell than did those of the healthy turkeys. Total serum protein, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen levels were higher in birds with TOC, whereas hemoglobin, iron, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl-transferase levels were lower. Although many of the differences in birds with TOC could be caused by the normal host reaction to infection, further study may reveal innate differences that contribute to susceptibility to TOC.

Identification of the bombesin receptor on murine and human cells by cross-linking experiments

The bombesin receptor present on the surface of murine and human cells was identified using 125I-labeled gastrin-releasing peptide as a probe, the cross-linking agent disuccinimidyl suberate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. A clone of NIH-3T3 cells which possesses approximately 80,000 bombesin receptors/cell with a single binding constant of approximately 1.9 X 10(-9) M was used in these studies. In addition, we used Swiss 3T3 cells and a human glioma cell line which possesses approximately 100,000 and approximately 55,000 bombesin receptors/cell, respectively. Under conditions found optimal for binding, it is demonstrated that 125I-labeled gastrin-releasing peptide can be cross-linked specifically to a glycoprotein of apparent molecular mass of 65,000 daltons on the surface of the NIH-3T3 cells. Similar results were obtained when the cross-linked product was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Moreover, the cross-linking reaction is specific and saturable and the 65,000-dalton polypeptide is not observed when the cross-linking experiments were performed with a NIH-3T3 cell line which is devoid of bombesin receptors. Interestingly, glycoproteins with apparent molecular weights of 75,000 were labeled specifically by 125I-labeled gastrin-releasing peptide when similar experiments were performed with Swiss 3T3 cells and with human glioma cell line GM-340. These different molecular weights may indicate differential glycosylation as treatment with the enzyme N-glycanase reduced the apparent molecular weight of the cross-linked polypeptide to 45,000. On the basis of these results it is concluded that the cross-linked polypeptides represent the bombesin receptor or the ligand-binding subunit of a putative larger bombesin receptor expressed on the surface of these cells.