Effects of cortisol on immunity in red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus |
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Authors: | P. Thomas, D. H. Lewis,&dagger |
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Affiliation: | University of Texas Marine Sciences Institute, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, U.S.A.;Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A &M University, College Station, Texas 77843, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | The immunocompetence of juvenile laboratory-reared red drum treated with cortisol in the diet (250 and 500 mg kg−1 food) was assessed following intramuscular administration of bacterio-phage ( Escherichia coli OX 174), washed bovine erythrocytes (1% suspension) and bovine serum albumin (100mg). Cortisol induced suppressive effects on the fish response to two of the three antigens (i.e., haemagglutinating activity to bovine erythrocytes and precipitin development to bovine serum albumin). These differential effects of cortisol on T-dependent antigens could be interpreted as evidence for heterogeneity of red drum T lymphocytes. |
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