The Effect of Wharton s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Application on Haematological Parameters in Cows with Subclinical Mastitis

This study aimed to investigate the effect of intramammary Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cell (WJ-MSC) administration on haematological parameters in cows with subclinical mastitis. In the study, 20 Holstein cows kept under equal care and feeding conditions during the same lactation period were used. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was applied to identify animals with subclinical mastitis. Animals were divided into 4 groups: control (n=4, 3 ml DMEM solution, intramammary, days 2 and 9), Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (n=4, WJ-MSCs, 2.5 x 107 WJ-MSCs, intramammary, days 2 and 9), subclinical mastitis (n=6, SM, parenteral antibiotic treatment, days 2 and 9), and SM+WJ-MSCs (n=6, 2.5 x 107 WJ-MSCs, days 2 and 9). On the 1st and 30th days of the study, blood samples were taken directly from the jugular vein under aseptic conditions into EDTA tubes containing anticoagulant for the evaluation of haematological parameters. Parameters related to infection and inflammation were evaluated in blood count analyses. It was found that the reference ranges for the parameters leukocyte (WBC), erythrocyte (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HCT), platelet (PLT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophil percentage Neu (%), and lymphocyte percentage (Lym%) varied. The WBC value, which was above the reference range on day 1, was measured within the reference range on day 30. It was found that the Neu% value, which was above the reference value in the Day 1 measurement, and the Lym% value, which was below the reference value, were within the reference values in the post-treatment measurement. The results obtained indicate that the application of WJ-MSCs has no negative effect on haematological parameters and may even play a balancing role in the inflammatory response for some parameters due to its immunomodulatory effects.