Abstract
Simple SummaryFatty acids play an important role in the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. The birth and the neonatal period are characterized by a high risk of inflammation and an increased production of reactive oxygen species in the calf. The present study deals with the effects of a different maternal fatty acid supply including the supplementation of saturated fatty acids by coconut oil, essential fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid or a combination of essential fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid on the immunological and oxidative as well as anti-oxidative status of neonatal calves. Maternal essential fatty acid as well as conjugated linoleic acid supply affected the inflammatory response and the oxidative and anti-oxidative status of the neonatal offspring. Essential fatty acids might have beneficial effects on the prevention of dysregulated inflammation after birth and reduced the plasma bilirubin concentrations in this period. Conjugated linoleic acid and saturated fatty acids might increase the inflammatory response. Similarly, plasma bilirubin increased, which in part might serve as a protector against oxidative stress in the early phase after birth.Fatty acids are known for their regulatory role in inflammation and oxidative stress. The present study investigated 38 calves born from dams, abomasally supplemented with coconut oil, essential fatty acids (EFA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or EFA + CLA, according to immunological traits and the oxidative and anti-oxidative status for the first 5 days of life. On day 2 of life, plasma total bilirubin, cholesterol, interleukin 1-β and ferric ion reducing anti-oxygen power (FRAP) were lower in calves with than without maternal EFA supplementation, and FRAP additionally on day 4. On day 3, the concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites were higher in calves with than without maternal EFA supplementation and additionally on day 5 together of retinol. Total leucocyte counts were decreased in the EFA group compared to the CLA group on day 5. Lymphocyte proportions decreased from day 1 to 5 only in the EFA + CLA group. On day 2, plasma total protein was higher in CLA and EFA + CLA than in EFA calves. Similarly, CLA calves had higher interleukin 1-β concentrations compared to EFA + CLA calves. FRAP was decreased by CLA on day 4. Overall, the maternal fatty acid supply affected the inflammatory response and the oxidative and anti-oxidative status of the neonatal offspring.
Highlights
Neonatal calves are at risk of sickness because of their immature immune system and the elevated stress level due to the birth process itself and the exposure to an oxygen-rich environment leading to an increased generation of reactive oxygen species [1,2]
While the values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte cell counts, MCV and number of atypical lymphocytes decreased with age, the MCHC and basophilic granulocytes increased with increasing age in all calves (p < 0.05; Table 2)
essential fatty acids (EFA) and EFA + conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) calves showed lower total leucocyte counts on day 5 of life compared to CLA calves (p < 0.05)
Summary
Neonatal calves are at risk of sickness because of their immature immune system and the elevated stress level due to the birth process itself and the exposure to an oxygen-rich environment leading to an increased generation of reactive oxygen species [1,2]. Metabolic stress in dairy cows leads to lipid mobilization, inflammation and oxidative stress and metabolic stress in the prenatal period, which has an impact on the metabolic and inflammatory response of calves [7,8,9,10,11]. Immunomodulatory factors and anti-oxidative substances, colostrum contains long-chain fatty acids that may play a crucial role in inflammation and immune regulation and affect the oxidative status of neonatal calves [12]. An influence of maternal fatty acid supplementation on the neonatal immunoglobulin and inflammatory as well as anti-oxidative status was shown in a previous study of Garcia et al [13] in calves. Maternal fatty acid supplementation and especially dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio can influence the immunoglobulin and cytokine production in piglets [15]
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