Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of concentrate supplement around postpartum period on plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IFG-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 in camels (Camelus dromedarius). Eighteen pregnant females were divided into supplemented (n = 9; S) and a non-supplemented (n = 9; C) experimental groups. During day, animals grazed 7 to 8 h on salty pasture and during night, they were kept in pen, where each female in group S received 4 kg/d of concentrate supplement during the last 3 months of pregnancy and 5 kg/d during the first 3 months postpartum. Plasma concentration of IGF-I was more dependent on the dietary level (P 0.05). Overall mean was more than threefold in group S (31.2 ± 12.0 ng/ml) than in group C (9.6±4.4 ng/ml). Relative plasma concentration of IGFBP-3 was affected by dietary and parity effects (P < 0.01). It was more important in supplemented and primiparous groups than in non-supplemented and multiparous groups. A positive correlation (r = 0.45; P < 0.001) was found between plasma IGFBP-3 and IGF-I concentrations of dromedary females in postpartum period. In conclusion, concordance of increasing between plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and energy balance was confirmed for dromedary.
Highlights
In Tunisia, highest concentration of dromedaries is found in the arid and desert lands of the country where the pasture productivity is marginal and biomass highly variable by season and year
Grimard et al (2013) reported that parity had an effect on plasma IGF-1 concentrations (PP: 61.65 ± 2.67 vs MP: 41.63 ± 5.81 ng/ml, p < 0.001), In order to modulate IGF-I action and to prevent it from protease degradation in circulation, IGF-I associates predominantly with IGFBP-3 which is only depressed after prolonged periods of severe malnutrition (Ketelslegers et al, 1996)
Circulating IGF-I is linked to four IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-2, 3, 4 and 5; Silva et al 2009) that regulate its bioavailability
Summary
In Tunisia, highest concentration of dromedaries is found in the arid and desert lands of the country where the pasture productivity is marginal and biomass highly variable by season and year. This species could survive, produce and breed under these conditions. There is few and fragmented information on the effects of nutritional deficiencies on the dromedary performances at critical periods including puberty and parturition (Moslah, 1990) and our studies (Hammadi et al, 2001a, 2002; 2004; 2005) were the first published papers on the metabolic factors IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in camels
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