Effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin and monoclonal antibody directed to ovine somatotrophic hormone on nitrogen retention and immune parameters in pigs.

Single and combined effects of administration and withdrawal of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) and an enhancing murine antiovine growth hormone monoclonal antibody (OA15) on nitrogen retention, and serological and immunological measurements in pigs were examined in a placebo-controlled experiment. Thirty-six barrows were allotted to one of four treatments: control, rpST, OA15, and OA15+rpST. The trial phase was four balance periods: a preperiod, two periods of treatment, and a postperiod. Weight- and nitrogen gain were higher for the rpST group by 13% (P < .01) and 15% (P < .001), for the OA15 group by 8% (P < .05) and 9% (P < .05), and for the OA15+rpST group by 25% (P < .001) and 20% (P < .001), respectively compared with the control group. During the postperiod, weight gain of the OA15- and the OA15+rpST group was 23% (P < .001) and 22% (P < .001) lower than that of the control group. Nitrogen gain during the postperiod was decreased by 19% (P < .01) for the OA15 group compared with the control group. Single or combined administration of rpST or OA15 did not affect (P > .10) cellular constituents in the blood of all groups during the periods of observation. Animals treated solely with rpST mounted a humoral immune response directed to rpST. This anti-rpST antibody response was, however, decreased (P < .01) in barrows treated with rpST and OA15 simultaneously. Also, a slight anti-rpST antibody response was noticed in barrows solely treated with OA15.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)