O presente estudo avaliou o efeito da suplementação mineral injetável de cobre (Cu) e zinco (Zn) sobre a resposta imunológica e o desempenho de bovinos de corte a pasto, foram avaliadas vacas no período pré-parto (experimento I) e seus bezerros até pós desmama (experimento II). O experimento foi realizado na Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos da USP, Campus de Pirassununga-SP. No experimento I, foram avaliadas sessenta vacas prenhas por inseminação, distribuídas aleatoriamente em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos (T e S). No tratamento testemunha (T), as vacas receberam soro fisiológico como placebo, e no tratamento suplementado (S) receberam mineral injetável via subcutânea (75 mg de cobre e 250 mg de zinco), com aproximadamente 75 dias antes do parto. Foram avaliados os teores de Cu e Zn séricos, IgG e IgM, ceruloplasmina e a atividade fagocitária. Os dados experimentais foram analisados utilizando-se o PROC MIXED do SAS (SAS, 2009), com o nível de significância de 5% para interpretação estatística de todos os testes. Os teores de cobre, zinco, IgM, IgG, ceruloplasmina e a atividade fagocitária das vacas não apresentaram diferença (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Da mesma forma, não houve influencia (p>0,05) das vacas nos teores de Cu e Zn séricos, na resposta imunológica e no desempenho dos bezerros aos 70 dias de idade (primeira coleta de sangue). O fornecimento de Cu e Zn injetável aos 75 dias antes do parto não alterou os teores de zinco, cobre e ceruloplasmina sérica, bem como a resposta imunológica até 30 dias após o parto. Como não houve diferença significativa entre as mães, foi considerado que os bezerros eram provenientes de vacas homogêneas. Assim, no experimento II, cinquenta e quatro bezerros filhos destas vacas, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em 2 tratamentos: (T) - bezerros não suplementados, que receberam soro fisiológico como placebo; (S) - bezerros suplementados com cobre (15 mg aos 70 dias, 45 mg aos 140 dias e 60 mg aos 210 dias) e zinco (50 mg aos 70 dias, 150 mg aos 140 dias e 200 mg aos 210 dias). Foram realizadas colheitas de sangue com aproximadamente 70, 140, 170, 210 e 240 dias de idade, para avaliação dos teores de Cu e Zn sérico, ceruloplasmina, IgG e IgM e a atividade fagocitária. A suplementação parenteral de Cu e Zn aos 70, 140 e 210 dias não alteraram (p>0,05) os teores de Cu e Zn séricos, a resposta imunológica, o desempenho, a atividade da enzima superóxido dismutase e a atividade fagocitária de bezerros Nelore. A falta de resposta ao suplemento mineral injetável deveu-se possivelmente ao fato dos bezerros já estarem recebendo as quantidades adequadas de cobre e de zinco nas suas dietas. / This study evaluated the effect of injectable Cu and Zn on the immune response and performance of beef cattle on pasture, cows were evaluated in the antepartum period (experiment I) and their calves to post weaning (experiment II). The experiment was perfomed at the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Campus Pirassununga. In experiment I, sixty pregnant Nelore cows by insemination were divided in a completely randomized design in two treatments. In the control treatment (T), the 30 cows received saline as placebo, the supplemented (S) received mineral injection subcutaneously (75 mg of copper and 250 mg of zinc), 75 days prior to parturition, when also received clostridiosis vaccine. It were evaluated the serum levels of Cu and Zn, IgG, and IgM, ceruloplasmin, SOD and phagocytic activity. Experimental data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS, 2009), with 5% significance level for statistical interpretation of all tests. The levels of copper, zinc, IgM, IgG, ceruloplasmin and the phagocytic activity of the cows had no statistical difference (p>0.05) between treatments. Similarly, there wasn\'t influence (p>0.05) of cows for Cu and Zn serum, immune response and performance of calves at 70 days of age (first blood sample). The supply of Cu and Zn injection at 75 days before delivery did not change the levels of zinc, copper and serum ceruloplasmin and the immune response 30 days after delivery. Since there was no significant difference between the mothers, it was considered that the calves were from homogeneous cows. In experiment II, fifty four calves born from these cows were distributed completely randomized design with 2 treatments: (T) - calves not supplemented that receive solution saline as placebo and (S) - calves supplemented with injectable mineral applied subcutaneously containing copper (15 mg at 70 days, 45 mg at 140 days and 60 mg at 210 days) and zinc (50 mg at 70 days, 150 mg at 140 days and 200 mg at 210 days. Blood samples were realized with approximately 70, 140, 170, 210 and 240 days of age. Were assessed levels of serum Cu and Zn, ceruloplasmin, IgG and IgM and the phagocytic activity. Parenteral supplementation of Cu and Zn at 70, 140 and 210 days didn\'t alter (p>0.05) the contents of Cu and Zn serum, the immune response, performance, activity of superoxide dismutase and the phagocytic activity of Nelore calves. The lack of response to injectable mineral supplement possibly was due to the fact that the calves were already taking adequate amounts of copper and zinc in their diets.

O presente estudo avaliou o efeito da suplementação mineral injetável de cobre (Cu) e zinco (Zn) sobre a resposta imunológica e o desempenho de bovinos de corte a pasto, foram avaliadas vacas no período pré-parto (experimento I) e seus bezerros até pós desmama (experimento II). O experimento foi realizado na Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos da USP, Campus de Pirassununga-SP. No experimento I, foram avaliadas sessenta vacas prenhas por inseminação, distribuídas aleatoriamente em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos (T e S). No tratamento testemunha (T), as vacas receberam soro fisiológico como placebo, e no tratamento suplementado (S) receberam mineral injetável via subcutânea (75 mg de cobre e 250 mg de zinco), com aproximadamente 75 dias antes do parto. Foram avaliados os teores de Cu e Zn séricos, IgG e IgM, ceruloplasmina e a atividade fagocitária. Os dados experimentais foram analisados utilizando-se o PROC MIXED do SAS (SAS, 2009), com o nível de significância de 5% para interpretação estatística de todos os testes. Os teores de cobre, zinco, IgM, IgG, ceruloplasmina e a atividade fagocitária das vacas não apresentaram diferença (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Da mesma forma, não houve influencia (p>0,05) das vacas nos teores de Cu e Zn séricos, na resposta imunológica e no desempenho dos bezerros aos 70 dias de idade (primeira coleta de sangue). O fornecimento de Cu e Zn injetável aos 75 dias antes do parto não alterou os teores de zinco, cobre e ceruloplasmina sérica, bem como a resposta imunológica até 30 dias após o parto. Como não houve diferença significativa entre as mães, foi considerado que os bezerros eram provenientes de vacas homogêneas. Assim, no experimento II, cinquenta e quatro bezerros filhos destas vacas, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em 2 tratamentos: (T) - bezerros não suplementados, que receberam soro fisiológico como placebo; (S) - bezerros suplementados com cobre (15 mg aos 70 dias, 45 mg aos 140 dias e 60 mg aos 210 dias) e zinco (50 mg aos 70 dias, 150 mg aos 140 dias e 200 mg aos 210 dias). Foram realizadas colheitas de sangue com aproximadamente 70, 140, 170, 210 e 240 dias de idade, para avaliação dos teores de Cu e Zn sérico, ceruloplasmina, IgG e IgM e a atividade fagocitária. A suplementação parenteral de Cu e Zn aos 70, 140 e 210 dias não alteraram (p>0,05) os teores de Cu e Zn séricos, a resposta imunológica, o desempenho, a atividade da enzima superóxido dismutase e a atividade fagocitária de bezerros Nelore. A falta de resposta ao suplemento mineral injetável deveu-se possivelmente ao fato dos bezerros já estarem recebendo as quantidades adequadas de cobre e de zinco nas suas dietas. / This study evaluated the effect of injectable Cu and Zn on the immune response and performance of beef cattle on pasture, cows were evaluated in the antepartum period (experiment I) and their calves to post weaning (experiment II). The experiment was perfomed at the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Campus Pirassununga. In experiment I, sixty pregnant Nelore cows by insemination were divided in a completely randomized design in two treatments. In the control treatment (T), the 30 cows received saline as placebo, the supplemented (S) received mineral injection subcutaneously (75 mg of copper and 250 mg of zinc), 75 days prior to parturition, when also received clostridiosis vaccine. It were evaluated the serum levels of Cu and Zn, IgG, and IgM, ceruloplasmin, SOD and phagocytic activity. Experimental data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS, 2009), with 5% significance level for statistical interpretation of all tests. The levels of copper, zinc, IgM, IgG, ceruloplasmin and the phagocytic activity of the cows had no statistical difference (p>0.05) between treatments. Similarly, there wasn\'t influence (p>0.05) of cows for Cu and Zn serum, immune response and performance of calves at 70 days of age (first blood sample). The supply of Cu and Zn injection at 75 days before delivery did not change the levels of zinc, copper and serum ceruloplasmin and the immune response 30 days after delivery. Since there was no significant difference between the mothers, it was considered that the calves were from homogeneous cows. In experiment II, fifty four calves born from these cows were distributed completely randomized design with 2 treatments: (T) - calves not supplemented that receive solution saline as placebo and (S) - calves supplemented with injectable mineral applied subcutaneously containing copper (15 mg at 70 days, 45 mg at 140 days and 60 mg at 210 days) and zinc (50 mg at 70 days, 150 mg at 140 days and 200 mg at 210 days. Blood samples were realized with approximately 70, 140, 170, 210 and 240 days of age. Were assessed levels of serum Cu and Zn, ceruloplasmin, IgG and IgM and the phagocytic activity. Parenteral supplementation of Cu and Zn at 70, 140 and 210 days didn\'t alter (p>0.05) the contents of Cu and Zn serum, the immune response, performance, activity of superoxide dismutase and the phagocytic activity of Nelore calves. The lack of response to injectable mineral supplement possibly was due to the fact that the calves were already taking adequate amounts of copper and zinc in their diets.

Life events and one's ability to adapt to these events has significant effects on immune functioning. Immunosuppression has been related to a high magnitude of life stress and low adaptive ability. While studies have explored immune response in stressed individuals, no study has approached the area of prevention with low-immunity individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether subjects who self-report stressful lives have lower immunity, and whether "low" immunity subjects under "high" stress could enhance phagocytic activity through biofeedback-assisted relaxation.

Although research has linked the central nervous system with changes in immunoresponsivity, research on the possible role of the central nervous system in altering reticuloendothelial activity is lacking. This study investigated the possible relationship between hypothalamic structures and changes in responsivity of the reticuloendothelial system. Eight male albino rats received bilateral electrode implants in the ventromedial area of the hypothalamus and, following brain stimulation, reticuloendothelial activity was assessed 3, 6, 12, 24, and 96 hours after stimulation. Brain stimulation decreased phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system. These findings may increase our understanding of a possible neural mechanism underlying relationships between stress and resistance to disease states.