Immunostimulatory effect of beta-glucan at drug-induced immunosuppression in guinea pigs

The peculiarity of beta-glucan action is the effect on all leukocyte populations, which is accompanied by the activation of phagocytic function. Corticosteroid hormones have an immunosuppressive effect. Immunosuppression modeling allowed us to evaluate changes in blood under the influence of dexamethasone, which is the active substance of Dexafort and beta-glucan as an immunostimulant. Hematologic studies to determine the immunostimulatory action of beta-glucan on the background of drug immunosuppression with Dexafort were conducted to determine the immune reactivity of the organism (Cavia porcellus). In vivarium conditions, 20 healthy guinea pigs (one control and three experimental groups) were tested: group I — immunosuppression without immunostimulant; group II — immunosuppression with immunostimulant; group III — immunosuppression with immunostimulant) of 5 individuals in each group. Immunosuppression was performed on animals I and III of the experimental groups twice every 7 days: subcutaneously administered Dexafort on the basis of long-acting dexamethasone manufactured by Intervet Schering-Plow Animal Health (Netherlands). Beta-glucan at a dose of 30 mg per kg of mass was used as an immunostimulator. The drug was administered by drinking once a day for 14 days to animals of the II and III experimental groups after the second administration of Dexafort. Due to the action of Dexafort in the blood of the animals tested decreased the number of leukocytes, in particular lymphocytes, which reflects the immunosuppressive state of the body. Beta-glucan feeding to animals resulted in an increase in their blood leukocyte count, including lymphocytes and platelets.