The immunomodulatory effect of laminaran [beta(1,3)-D-glucan] on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L, anterior kidney leucocytes after intraperitoneal, peroral and peranal administration

Anterior kidney leucocytes obtained from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., 2 days after administration of laminaran, were assayed for their capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium to formazan, and for their activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase after intraperitoneal (15 mg kg(-1)), peroral (150 mg kg(-1)) or peranal (150 mg kg(-1)) administration. Leucocytes obtained from salmon treated by an intraperitoneal injection of laminaran produced significantly more superoxide anion than cells obtained from fish treated with dextran or sodium chloride immediately after cell isolation. Immediately after extraction, the activity of acid phosphatase in anterior kidney leucocytes obtained from salmon injected with laminaran was significantly higher than in cells harvested from fish treated with dextran or sodium chloride. Furthermore, cells obtained from salmon treated by peroral instillation of laminaran showed significantly enhanced production of superoxide anion compared with leucocytes from fish treated with either sodium chloride or dextran. The acid phosphatase activity in anterior kidney leucocytes from salmon treated by peroral and peranal instillation of laminaran was significantly higher than in cells from fish treated either with sodium chloride or dextran. Finally, fluorescence microscopic examination of tissue sections from fish treated peranally by intubation with fluorescein labelled laminaran revealed fluorescent vesicles in intestinal epithelial cells and in anterior kidney macrophages.