Abstract

Adipose tissue (AT) plays a major role in metabolic adaptations in postpartum (PP) dairy cows. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a key regulator of metabolism and energy homeostasis; however, information about this system in ruminants is scarce. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the eCB system in subcutaneous AT, and to determine its relation to the metabolic profile in peripartum cows. Biopsies of AT were performed at 14 d prepartum, and 4 and 30 d PP from 18 multiparous peripartum cows. Cows were categorized retrospectively according to those with high body weight (BW) loss (HWL, 8.5 ± 1.7% BW loss) or low body weight loss (LWL, 2.9 ± 2.5% BW loss) during the first month PP. The HWL had higher plasma non-esterified fatty acids and a lower insulin/glucagon ratio PP than did LWL. Two-fold elevated AT levels of the main eCBs, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), were found 4 d PP compared with prepartum in HWL, but not in LWL cows. AT levels of the eCB-like molecules oleoylethanolamide, palmitoylethanolamide, and of arachidonic acid were elevated PP compared with prepartum in all cows. The abundance of monoglyceride lipase (MGLL), the 2-AG degrading enzyme, was lower in HWL vs. LWL AT PP. The relative gene expression of the cannabinoid receptors CNR1 and CNR2 in AT tended to be higher in HWL vs. LWL PP. Proteomic analysis of AT showed an enrichment of the inflammatory pathways’ acute phase signaling and complement system in HWL vs. LWL cows PP. In summary, eCB levels in AT were elevated at the onset of lactation as part of the metabolic adaptations in PP dairy cows. Furthermore, activating the eCB system in AT is most likely associated with a metabolic response of greater BW loss, lipolysis, and AT inflammation in PP dairy cows.

Highlights

  • In high-yielding dairy cows, adipose tissue (AT) plays an important role in the metabolic adaptations during the transition from late pregnancy to calving, and the onset of lactation

  • We examined the expressions of eCB-related genes: CNR1, CNR2, monoglyceride lipase (MGLL), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPEPLD); genes related to lipid metabolism: hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), leptin (LEP), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4); and inflammatory genes: tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL1β), and haptoglobin (HP)

  • It was found that across lactations 2–6, the percentage of body weight (BW) loss tended to be higher in high weight loss (HWL) than in low weight loss (LWL) cows (8.6 ± 0.9% in HWL vs. 5.7 ± 1.4% in LWL, P < 0.1), indicating that this trait is repetitive within animals and reflects the difference in metabolic response PP

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Summary

Objectives

This work aimed to assess the eCB system in subcutaneous AT, and to determine its relation to the metabolic profile in peripartum cows. The objectives of the present study were to examine, for the first time, the presence of different elements of the eCB system in the AT of peripartum dairy cows, and to determine whether components of this system are changed in dairy cows that exhibit an altered metabolic response PP, as reflected in their degree of BW loss, their circulating metabolic profile, and the AT metabolic state, revealed by longitudinal proteomic analysis

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