Effects of dexamethasone on selected parameters of the bovine immune system

The synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, has been used by investigators studying bovine immune mechanisms to either exacerbate infectious processes or stimulate stress-induced steroid-influenced immunosuppression. Considerable differences exist in the literature concerning the effect of dexamethasone on the bovine immune response. The purpose of our study was to clarify the reported effects of dexamethasone on bovine T-lymphocyte function. Therefore, we designed experiments to evaluate cellular and humoral aspects of the bovine immune response under the influence of dexamethasone. The experiments took into consideration the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone and optimal and suboptimal doses of selected mitogens. The data suggest little variation in hematological parameters that occurred with the administration of dexamethasone. Leukocyte counts were slightly elevated at two observations, and this was believed to be the result of an increase in peripheral blood neutrophils. T-lymphocytes (erythrocyte rosetting) were not selectively depleted. However, suppression of T-lymphocyte function was noted, particularly in response to suboptimum doses of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanaval in A (Con A). Antibody production to the T-dependent antigen, KLH, was suppressed in those animals receiving dexamethasone. These data suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of dexamethasone in the bovine is dependent upon the dose of dexamethasone administered, the pharmacological level of dexamethasone in vivo, physiological adaptation of the host, mitogen dose used in evaluation, and the time of evaluation post drug administration. The study points out the importance of considering these variables when interpreting the effects of dexamethasone on the bovine immune response.