[STRESS-PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF HUMAN LACTOFERRIN].

Lactoferrin - multifunctional glycoprotein of the transferrin family with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa. We studied the effect of human lactoferrin on stress-induced changes in the level of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and redistribution of leukocytes in the blood of rats. The used model of stress - swimming in cold water (1-4 °C) for 2 minutes. Corticosterone and ACTH levels in the plasma were determined by enzyme immunoassay. It has been established that preventive intraperitoneal administration of lactoferrin has reduced stress-induced increase in the concentration of corticosterone in 30 minutes after the stress and has normalized stress-inducing changes in the number of neutrophils in the blood after 30 minutes and 3 hours after exposure of stress, but has not affected the level of ACTH. The results of this study suggest that lactoferrin can act as an adaptogen during experimental stress.