The effect of Staphylococcal cell wall ractor on endotoxin mastitis

The effect of a cell wall extract of Staphylococcus aureus on the inflammatory response induced in the mammary gland by endotoxin was studied. Quarters of lactating cows were infused with 10 μg endotoxin with or without the cell wall extract. In the quarters receiving the cell wall extract, the clinical response was delayed and markedly diminished. Changes in levels of antitrypsin, which reflect changes in vascular permeability, followed a similar pattern. There were no differences in the somatic cell count and NAGase levels in the inoculated quarters. The growth stimulating effect for S. aureus in the whey was delayed in the quarters which received the cell wall extract. The specificity of the antiinflammatory effect of the cell wall extract therefore extends to endotoxin