SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6, ALPHA(1)-ACID GLYCOPROTEIN, AND CORTICOSTERONE IN 2-WEEK-OLD CHICKENS INOCULATED WITH ESCHERICHIA-COLI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE

The concentration of interleukin-6 (n-6), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein ( alpha(1)-AG), and corticosterone (CORT) was investigated chronological ly (0 h to 14 d) in the sera of 2-wk-old specific-pathogen-free chicks inoculated with Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the LPS group the IL-6 level was elevated from 1 h to 2 d and was the highest at 3 h. From 4 to 14 d the IL-6 level was low in the LPS group. In th e PBS group, IL-6 was not detected except a mild increase from 1 h to 6 h. In the LPS group, the alpha(1)-AG level increased from 6 h to 4 d , and the peak was 2 d. In the PBS group the al-AG level was always lo w. The CORT level in the LPS group was higher than that of PBS group a t 1 h. This study suggests that E. coli LPS may elevate serum IL-6 and CORT, and that IL-6 and CORT may increase the alpha(1)-AG level in th e chicks.