The objectives of this study were to determine whether Staphylococcus aureus chronic intramammary infection (IMI) influences protein expression of TGF-β subfamily components and collagen I and to examine the histomorphometric changes that occur in mammary stroma and parenchyma during active mammary gland involution. Twenty-one Holstein non-pregnant cows in late lactation either uninfected or with chronic natural S. aureus IMI were included in this study. Cows were slaughtered at 7, 14 and 21d after cessation of milking and samples for immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis were taken. Protein expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 was significantly higher in chronically infected quarters than in uninfected controls at the three involution stages studied. Immunostaining of TGF-βR1 and TGF-βR3 and collagen I was significantly higher in S. aureus-infected quarters than in uninfected controls at every involution time evaluated. The percentages of tissue area composed of parenchyma and intralobular stroma were significantly higher in S. aureus-infected than in uninfected quarters. Chronic S. aureus mastitis modifies protein expression of the three TGF-β isoforms and type 1 and 3 receptors, which was associated with changes directed to limit the scope of inflammation and injury to the host.
Keywords: Involution; Mastitis; Staphylococcus aureus; Transforming growth factor beta.
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