Chitotriosidase activity in blood and colostrum at peripartum period in goats

Abstract

Chitotriosidase (ChT) is a functional chitinase, with high homology to chitinases belonging to family 18 of glycosylhydrolases and present in different species. Predominantly it is a secretory protein but it is in part processed and stored in lysosomes. ChT mRNA is expressed only at a late stage of differentiation of monocytes to activated macrophages in culture indicating that the enzyme has a strongly regulated expression. Since ChT is able to cleave chitin present in the cell wall of fungi and nematodes, it is possible that this enzyme continues to play a role in defense mechanisms against parasites and fungi. There have been many studies of human ChT, but few of other mammalian endocrine chitinases. The aim of this study was to measure ChT activity in goat serum and colostrum around partum period. Blood from 30 Majorera breed goats was taken at -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, and 4 postpartum days, and colostrum was sampled at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 postpartum days. ChT activity was assayed in serum and colostrum using a uorescence method. Blood serum ChT activity was 3887, 4023, 3682, 3333, 2658, 2955, 2575 and 3520 nMol/ml/h at -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, and 4 postpartum days respectively. No statistical effects of time were shown, but the lowest ChT activity level was measured around partum day. Colostrum ChT activity was 3912, 2124, 737, 403 and 465 nMol/ml/h at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 postpartum days, respectively. Statistical differences (P<0.05) were shown between postpartum days.