Abstract
BackgroundInsulin secretion and tissue sensitivity to insulin is considered to be one of the factors controlling lipid metabolism post partum. The objective of this study was to compare glucose-induced blood insulin and metabolite responses in Estonian Holstein (EH, n = 14) and Estonian Red (ER, n = 14) cows.MethodsThe study was carried out using the glucose tolerance test (GTT) performed at 31 ± 1.9 days post partum during negative energy balance. Blood samples were obtained at -15, -5, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min relative to infusion of 0.15 g/kg BW glucose and analysed for glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), cholesterol and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Applying the MIXED Procedure with the SAS System the basal concentration of cholesterol, and basal concentration and concentrations at post-infusion time points for other metabolites, area under the curve (AUC) for glucose and insulin, clearance rate (CR) for glucose, and maximum increase from basal concentration for glucose and insulin were compared between breeds.ResultsThere was a breed effect on blood NEFA (P < 0.05) and a time effect on all metabolites concentration (P < 0.01). The following differences were observed in EH compared to ER: lower blood insulin concentration 5 min after glucose infusion (P < 0.05), higher glucose concentration 20 (P < 0.01) and 30 min (P < 0.05) after infusion, and higher NEFA concentration before (P < 0.01) and 5 min after infusion (P < 0.05). Blood TG concentration in ER remained stable, while in EH there was a decrease from the basal level to the 40th min nadir (P < 0.01), followed by an increase to the 60th min postinfusion (P < 0.01).ConclusionOur results imply that glucose-induced changes in insulin concentration and metabolite responses to insulin differ between EH and ER dairy cows.
Highlights
Insulin secretion and tissue sensitivity to insulin is considered to be one of the factors controlling lipid metabolism post partum
body condition score (BCS) was lower in Estonian Holstein (EH) compared to Estonian Red (ER) at calving (3.27 ± 0.12 and 3.50 ± 0.12, P < 0.05) and at the time of the glucose tolerance test (GTT) (2.71 ± 0.11 and 3.02 ± 0.11, P < 0.05), while BC loss did not differ between breeds indicating that there was no difference in energy balance between the breeds
BCS decreased during the seven weeks post partum in both breeds, indicating that cows were in negative energy balance (NEB) during the GTT
Summary
Insulin secretion and tissue sensitivity to insulin is considered to be one of the factors controlling lipid metabolism post partum. Selection for higher milk production has been associated with changes in cows’ metabolism, especially the capability to partition more energy into milk [1] and less into body reserves, and with enforced post partum lipid mobilization [2]. These changes have increased the incidence of a range of metabolic disorders such as fatty liver/ketosis complex and displaced abomasum [3], reduced cow fertility [4] and immunity [5]. These findings suggest that partitioning of energy between the tissues and milk, intensity of lipolysis, blood insulin level and insulin response to glucose injection could be related to cow breed
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