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Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
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Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

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THE SOURCE OF AGGLUTININS IN THE MILK OF COWS

T Smith1, M L Orcutt, R B Little

  • 1Department of Animal Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N.J.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The udder actively produces agglutinins when bacteria invade. This immune response involves white blood cells and increased antibody levels in the affected mammary gland.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Immunology
  • Bacteriology
  • Mammary Gland Biology

Background:

  • The mammary gland's role in immune responses is crucial for preventing mastitis.
  • Understanding the local production of antibodies within the udder is essential for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the udder's specific role in producing agglutinins following bacterial challenge.
  • To characterize the cellular and humoral immune responses within the mammary gland.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental induction of bacterial invasion (living and dead bacteria) in bovine udders.
  • Histological examination of tissue response, focusing on leukocyte infiltration.
  • Measurement of agglutinin levels in mammary secretions.

Main Results:

  • The udder demonstrated a distinct capacity for agglutinin production when exposed to bacteria.
  • An initial influx of polynuclear leukocytes was observed in the invaded quarter.
  • A subsequent increase in agglutinin levels was detected in the affected mammary gland tissue.

Conclusions:

  • The udder actively participates in the local immune response by producing agglutinins.
  • Bacterial invasion triggers a localized inflammatory and antibody production cascade within the mammary gland.

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