IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS OF PIGS DURING LONG-TERM BETA-ADRENERGIC TREATMENT

Experiments were performed to determine the effects of the β‐adrenergic agonist Ro 16–8714 on the immune system of finishing pigs fed an adequate or a low‐protein diet. Growth rate, nitrogen and fat retention, body composition as well as spleen weight were influenced by both β‐agonist and/or protein level, as expected. However, lymphocyte stimulation with Concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinine in vitro or in vivo antibody production against horse red blood cells were not changed by the β‐agonist in pigs fed sufficient or insufficient amounts of protein. © 1990 Blackwell Verlag GmbH