Effect of temperature on macrophage activation and the production of macrophage activating factor by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) leucocytes

Production of macrophage activating factor (MAF) by rainbow trout leucocytes has been shown to be temperature dependent in vivo and in vitro. Cells from fish held at 14°C and stimulated to produce MAF immediately after isolation were capable of secreting MAF down to 6°C (the lowest temperature tested). However, after 48 h at 6°C, these leucocytes show impaired MAF secretion. Acclimation of fish to low temperatures (7°C) did not recover the inhibitory effects of low in vitro temperatures on MAF production, but if these leucocytes were preincubated at 10 or 18°C for 48 h, MAF was produced from these cells. Interestingly, macrophages isolated from fish kept at 7 or 14°C and cultured at low temperatures (6°C) were responsive to MAF-containing supernatants, and showed a higher relative increase in respiratory burst activity compared with their counterparts cultured at 10 and 18°C. Such observations clearly demonstrate that a major impairment of bactericidal activity at low temperatures resides within the specific immune compartment of fish. The implications for fish health are discussed.