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Present study was undertaken in buffalo neonates born to vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate) -supplemented and non-supplemented Murrah buffaloes. Calves from vitamin E-supplemented buffaloes [n = 10; VeC (vitamin E-supplemented calves)] and non-supplemented buffaloes [n = 10; CC (control calves)) constituted the treatment and control groups respectively. Sampling of blood was done on day 0 (before colostrum feeding), 1,3,7,14,21,28,42,56,70,84,98,112 and 126 post birth and analyzed for various energy metabolites, hormones, enzymes and growth parameter. Glucose registered a rise at 24h in response to colostrum feeding and was significantly different (P<0.01) between groups and age. Precolostral plasma NEFA levels were high (P<0.05) in calves of both the groups at birth. The levels declined significantly (P <0.01) after colostrum feeding at 24h in VeC and CC. Plasma thyroidal hormones irrespective of the treatment were highest at birth and gradually declined. Alkaline phosphatase and LDH differed significantly (P <0.05) between the two groups of calves. Plasma insulin, AST and ALT did not differ between the groups. Birth weight and average daily gain in VeC was significantly higher (P<0.01) as compared to CC. Present study revealed that the new born calves were physiologically immature at birth and pre-partum supplementation of vitamin E results in improved growth, metabolic and endocrine profile of calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken in buffalo neonates born to vitamin E (dl -alpha -tocopherol acetate) -supplemented and non-supplemented Murrah buffaloes. Calves from vitamin E-supplemented buffaloes ( n = 10; vitamin E -supplemented calves [VeC]) and non-supplemented buffaloes ( n = 10; control calves [CC]) constituted the treatment and control groups respectively. Two colostrum samples were taken at the first post-partum milking and again after 12 h from dams for IgG estimation. Sampling of blood was performed on days 0 (before colostrum feeding), 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112 and 126 post-birth and analysed for apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG and various immune parameters. Colostral IgG level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in vitamin E-supplemented buffaloes. The calves in both groups were born hypogammaglobulinemic with IgG level <5 g/l. However, first colostrum feeding resulted in significantly elevated IgG levels (>10 g/l) in calves of both groups at 24 h, which remained high afterwards. Apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG at 24 h was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in VeC than in CC. Plasma Nitric Oxide (NO) levels were significantly elevated in the calves of either group at birth, which declined significantly (p < 0.01) afterwards. Vitamin E feeding to dams had no added effect on NO levels in experimental calves. Total leucocyte counts did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts changed significantly between groups (p < 0.01) and days (p < 0.01), with lymphocytes increasing and neutrophils declining with age. This study revealed that the calves were immunologically immature at birth. Ante-partum supplementation of vitamin E did not influence plasma NO or IgG but had a significant effect on colostral IgG (p < 0.05). It also improved the apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG at 24 h in VeC as compared to CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Twelve healthy lactating murrah buffaloes of similar parity between 90-120 days of lactation, selected from institute herd and maintained at managemental practices as followed at the institute, were included in this experiment. The animals were divided into two groups based on their production level in previous lactation. The average milk production level of group I and II was 9.33 and 6.0 lit/day respectively. Blood was collected from these buffaloes on three occasions 10 days apart. The lymphocytes were separated and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with PHA-P for 24h at 37°C in a humidified CO2 incubator (95% air and 5% CO2). The lymphocyte responsiveness in vitro was also evaluated in response to different nitric oxide compounds viz SNAP, LNAME and NMMA. Mitogen induced stimulation index tended to be significantly different (P<0.01) in buffaloes at different levels of production Lymphocytes were also found to be responsive to nitric oxide compounds. While the blastogenic response was significantly reduced at 10 mM (P<0.01) by SNAP (nitric oxide donor), the NOS inhibitors (both L-NAME, NMMA) were effective at as low as 0.2mM concentration (P<0.01). The study demonstrates the presence of an active Nitric oxide Synthase (NOS) system in buffalo lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]