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Effect of mastitis on plasminogen activator activity of milk somatic cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Teffi Zachos
Affiliation:
Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, Departments of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Ioannis Politis
Affiliation:
Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, Departments of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Ronald C. Gorewit
Affiliation:
Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, Departments of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
David M. Barbano
Affiliation:
Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, Departments of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

Summary

This study was conducted to examine the effects of mastitis and stage of lactation on plasminogen activator (PA) activity in milk somatic cells. An assay System, which measures the plasmin-mediated hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate D-valyl-leucyl-lysine p−nitroanilide, was used to assess PA activity present within milk somatic cells. Milk cell associated PA activity was increased (P < 0·05) by 50% in the presence of fibrin fragments. This suggests that milk somatic cells contain tissue PA which, unlike urokinase PA, is preferentially activated in the presence of fibrin fragments. An increase of the milk somatic cell count from < 5 × 104 to > 106 cells/ml resulted in an 8-fold increase in PA activity per cell. Elevated levels of PA activity were associated with milk somatic cells isolated from mastitic quarters obtained from cows in early (<4 months in lactation) or late lactation (>8 months in lactation). We conclude that PA activity is increased during severe mastitic inflammation. Although the physiological function of this enzyme is as yet unclear, we propose that it may be involved in the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, contributing to the higher levels of plasmin occurring in milk isolated from mastitic quarters.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1992

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References

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