Abstract
Simple SummaryHeat stress leads to poor welfare, decreased productivity, and poor product quality. It is known that the content of fatty acids in the blood can reflect the physiological state of the body under normal and pathological conditions. They can be biomarkers for the state of biomembranes associated with inflammation and indicate the state of energy imbalance during chronic heat stress. They perform various functions in the body; therefore, the determination of the spectrum of free fatty acids can be used as biomarkers of these processes. The changes in the spectrum of free fatty acids in the blood serum of dairy cows revealed in our study will make it possible to better understand the physiological state of the organism and possibly indicate ways to maintain the health and milk productivity of animals under conditions of prolonged hyperthermia.This experiment was conducted to study the effect of a prolonged hot period on the fatty acid (FA) composition in blood serum of dairy cows. Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to the hyperthermia group (HYP, n = 8) in August (summer season) and the control group (CON, n = 10) in October (autumn season). Blood from animals of the HYP group was collected in one heat wave, which was preceded by a long period of heat stress (HS, temperature-humidity index (THI ≥ 72)). Blood from cows of the CON group was collected under thermal comfort conditions (THI < 68). The spectrum of free fatty acids (FFA) in the blood serum was analyzed by gas chromatography. The concentration of FFA increased, including saturated FAs and monounsaturated FAs, in the blood serum of cows under conditions of prolonged HS. This was associated with the mobilization of FA into the bloodstream from adipose tissue, as a consequence of negative energy balance. An increase in the ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated FAs may indicate biomembrane dysfunction and adversely affect dairy cows. This study showed that prolonged periods of heat can affect the FA composition of blood. How much this leads to changes in the FA composition of milk and the quality of food products remains to be seen in further research.
Highlights
The role of fatty acids (FA) in a living organism is extremely diverse
This study showed that prolonged periods of heat can affect the FA composition of blood
Lipids are usually deposited in adipose tissue (AT), but numerous studies have shown that AT is involved in the regulation of metabolic processes through the control of the level of lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) in the blood plasma
Summary
The role of fatty acids (FA) in a living organism is extremely diverse. This is closely related to the structure of these biologically active molecules, which have different carbon chain lengths and degrees of saturation. The concentration and composition of FAs vary significantly under various physiological and pathological conditions The determination of their content in various biological substrates, including blood plasma, can be an important diagnostic tool [3]. This allows early detection of systemic disorders and diseases associated with lipid imbalance and improve the quality of treatment. Many researchers emphasize the importance of studying certain types of FAs as biological markers of metabolic homeostasis disorders and early detection of pathological conditions in the body [4,5]
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