ELEVATION OF SERUM G-CSF LEVEL IN HORSES WITH TRANSPORTATION-INDUCED FEVER

Levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the blood o f horses were measured before and after a long-distance transportation to clarify the pathogenesis of transportation-induced fever. The seru m G-CSF level was measured by its ability to stimulate growth in a mou se myeloblastic cell line, NFS-60. Of 26 horses transported for a long distance, 9 had fever more than 39.0 degrees C during or after transp ortation. After transportation, the serum G-CSF level significantly in creased in horses with transportation-induced fever but not in those w ithout fever, and the serum G-CSF level correlated positively with the peak body temperature and with an increase in peripheral white blood cell count. These data indicate that microbial infection, which is clo sely related to the elevation of the serum G-CSF level, is the causati ve factor of transportation-induced fever.