The effect of taurine on formation of non specific resistance in calves
In the experiment I the 5 newborn calves during first day of life were given three times by 0.3 g of taurine in water and 5 control calves were watered by 50 ml of saline. Then in the course of 6 days the dose of taurine was elevated by 3 times; the blood probes were obtained at 24 hr after birth and then at 10, 20 and 30 days of life. The exp. II was performed on 20 calves using the same scheme in farm conditions. In the exp. III 10 calves in the time period from 10 to 20 days of life were injected s.c. every day by 40 mg of taurine. The next day after first watering of taurine the level of immunoglobulins in blood was increased by 22% (P<0.05) compared to control. After 7 days of watering of taurine the indices of non specific activity (bactericidic, lysocymic and phagocytic activity) and number of T-lymphocytes (P<0.05) were increased, which was accomplished by the decrease in disease cases and the increase in average daily live weight gain (by 23%, P<0.05). The similar shifts were observed in exp. III after s.c. injections of taurine at a dose of 1 mg/kg of live weight, indicating the possibility of stimulation of immune system through its peripheral structures using micro doses of taurine.