In vivo modulating effects of bacterial peptidoglycans on PHA-induced responses of porcine PBL and splenocytes.

The modulating effect of Brevibacterium divaricatum cell wall derivatives, i.e. peptidoglycan monomer (PGM) and peptidoglycan polymer (PGP) on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and spleen lymphocytes (SPL) from neonatal pigs farrowed to gilts or sows was tested. Both, PBL from progeny of sows and SPL from progeny of gilts responded significantly lower (P < 0.01) when PGM (14 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal (IP) route at Day 0 and Day 7 after farrowing as compared to the respective controls. When the same amount of PGM was given i.p. at Day 7 and Day 14, the responses of PBL and SPL from offspring of gilts were much higher (P < 0.01) than those of nontreated controls. The treatment with PGP (2.5 mg/kg) by the same route at Day 7 and Day 14 strongly stimulated (P < 0.01) the responses of PBL and SPL of pigs originating from litters of either gilts or sows, respectively.