Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30915069›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2019

Photoperiodic Effects on Diurnal Rhythms in Cell Numbers of Peripheral Leukocytes in Domestic Pigs.

Larissa C Engert, Ulrike Weiler, Birgit Pfaffinger, Volker Stefanski, Sonja S Schmucker

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 42% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Seasonal variation in sunlight exposure is differently associated with changes in T regulatory and T-helper 17 cell blood counts in adolescent and adults females: a pilot study.Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology · 2025
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Impact of Housing Environment on the Immune System in Chickens: A Review.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2020
    Review
  6. On-Farm Welfare Assessment Protocol for Suckling Piglets: A Pilot Study.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Larissa C EngertBehavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Ulrike WeilerBehavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Birgit PfaffingerBehavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Volker StefanskiBehavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Sonja S SchmuckerBehavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
University of Hohenheim · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The photoperiod is known to modulate immune cell number and function and is regarded essential for seasonal disease susceptibility. In addition, diurnal variations in the immune system are regarded important for immune competence. Whereas few studies investigated the influence of season, none investigated the specific effect of the photoperiod on these diurnal immune rhythms until now. Therefore, the present study compared diurnal rhythms in cell numbers of peripheral leukocyte types in domestic pigs held either under long day conditions (LD) or short day conditions (SD). Cosinor analyses of cell numbers of various peripheral leukocyte subtypes investigated over periods of 50 h revealed distinct photoperiodic differences in diurnal immune rhythms. Relative amplitudes of cell numbers of total leukocytes, NK cells, T cells, and monocytes in blood were higher under SD than LD. In addition, cell counts of total leukocytes, NK cells, T cells including various T cell subtypes, and eosinophils peaked earlier relative to the time of lights-on under SD than LD. In contrast, diurnal rhythms of neutrophil counts did not show photoperiodic differences. Mesor values did not differ in any leukocyte type. Generalized linear mixed model analyses revealed associations of leukocyte counts with plasma cortisol concentration and activity behavior in most investigated cell types. Moreover, the present study demonstrated photoperiodic effects on diurnal rhythms in plasma cortisol concentrations and activity behavior, which is in agreement with human and primate studies. The results of the present study imply stronger rhythmicity in leukocyte counts in general under SD. Common intrinsic mechanisms seem to regulate photoperiodic effects on diurnal rhythms in leukocyte counts, except for neutrophils, in domestic pigs. Our results reveal considerable insights into the regulation of immune rhythms in diurnally active species.

Indexed as

PhotoperiodAnimalsCircadian RhythmHydrocortisoneLeukocyte CountLeukocytesSus scrofaHydrocortisoneactivity behaviorcircadian rhythmcortisoldiurnal rhythmimmune systemphotoperiodseasonswine

Identifiers

PMID30915069
PMCPMC6422931
OpenAlexW2922163908

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.