Effects of ACTH administration on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte function and lymphocyte blastogenesis

Yearling steers were treated with ACTH to determine the effect of increased plasma cortisol concentration on bovine lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function. The administration of ACTH caused a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in serum cortisol concentration and depression of lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. The response to pokeweed mitogen was also depressed, but not significantly. Random migration by PMN was significantly enhanced by ACTH treatment, but there was no effect on ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by PMN. The iodination reaction, which evaluates the activity of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide antibacterial system of the PMN, was significantly impaired after ACTH treatment. These data indicate that specific parameters of lymphocyte and neutrophil function were impaired directly or indirectly by elevated in vivo concentrations of plasma cortisol.