Weaning age

P-value

14 d

28 d

NK cytotoxicity, %

(Effector:target = 50:1)

weeks of age

<0.001

8

42.8 ± 3.1^a

34.9 ± 3.0^b

12

26.9 ± 3.3^a

17.2 ± 3.1^b

16

30.6 ± 3.1^a

23.4 ± 3.1^b

20

31.6 ± 3.2^a

16.8 ± 3.1^b

Neutrophil phagocytosis, %

weeks of age

<0.001

8

19.9 ± 2.9^b

30.1 ± 1.6^a

12

26.8 ± 1.7

24.7 ± 1.7

16

20.9 ± 1.7

19.0 ± 1.8

20

21.4 ± 1.7

20.3 ± 1.8

Neutrophil chemotaxis, no.

(directed migration)

weeks of age

<0.01

8

123.9 ± 16.6^b

244.8 ± 20.8^a

12

139.7 ± 21.1^b

186.3 ± 19.2^a

16

124.2 ± 21.2

122.2 ± 22.2

20

201.1 ± 20.8^a

140.4 ± 19.1^b

Plasma IgG, ng/ml (10³)

weeks of age

<0.05

8

5.6 ± 1.9^b

13.0 ± 1.8^a

12

20.9 ± 2.7

17.8 ± 2.6

16

11.6 ± 2.8^b

33.3 ± 3.4^a

20

39.7 ± 2.6^b

48.2 ± 2.1^a

Plasma cortisol, ng/ml

weeks of age

<0.001

8

41.7 ± 2.6

43.8 ± 2.5

12

46.6 ± 2.5^a

37.5 ± 2.6^b

16

31.9 ± 2.6

30.1 ± 2.6

20

24.0 ± 2.6

31.7 ± 2.5