Immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I and insulin in blood plasma and milk of mares and in blood plasma of foals.

Abstract

Concentration of (total) globulin was relatively stable in blood plasma of mares, but rapidly decreased in colostrum to very low levels within 2 days after parturition. In foals, after intake of the first colostrum, globulin increased within 1 day in blood plasma, but remained at lower concentrations than those measured in mare plasma. Concentrations of immunoreactive insulin (iI) were high during the first 2 months of lactation in blood plasma of mares and then decreased, were high in first colostrum and then decreased drastically, and remained at low concentrations up to weaning in blood of foals. In mares, concentration of immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I (iIGF-I) in plasma increased during late pregnancy, peaked 2 days after parturition, and then gradually declined until weaning. iIGF-I was highest in first colostrum and then dramatically decreased within the first 2 days of lactation. In foals, iIGF-I gradually increased over the first 2 months of life. IGF-I in the horse appears to be bound to proteins of similar molecular weight as in cattle. The study demonstrates different patterns of changes in plasma iIGF-I and iI concentrations in mares and their foals, whereas iI, iIGF-I and globulin changes in colostrum and milk occurred in parallel. Furthermore, plasma iI and iIGF-I behaved differently, while colostrum iI and iIGF-I behaved similarly, in mares compared with dairy cows.