Blood plasma lipidome profile of dairy cows during the transition period

Abstract

BackgroundThe transition period of dairy cows, around parturition and the onset of lactation, involves endocrine and metabolic changes to compensate for an increased energy requirement aggravated by reduced feed intake. Transition cows adjust to the resulting negative energy balance with the mobilization of lipids from the adipose tissues yielding increased blood levels of non-esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies like β-hydroxybutyrate.ResultsTo study the biochemical adaptations underlying this physiologic adjustment and possible pathologic derangements, we analyzed the blood plasma lipidome of transition cows by ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The resulting data were processed by principal component analysis, revealing over 60 lipid masses that change in abundance over the test period ranging from two weeks before calving to four weeks postpartum. Further characterization of analytes by tandem mass spectrometry demonstrated that the concentration of triacylglycerides in plasma drops at the day of parturition whereas the plasma level of many phosphatidylcholines and two sphingomyelins increases steadily during early lactation.ConclusionThis newly identified shift in phospholipid composition delivers a potential biomarker to detect aberrant metabolic pathways in transition cows and also provides insights into how to prevent and treat associated disorders like fatty liver disease.

Lipid and lipoprotein profile changes in dairy cows in response to late pregnancy and the early postpartum period

“…In contrast, a decrease in serum triglycerides and VLDL values was found at calving and postpartum time points compared to prepartum time points. The changes found in these parameters agree with the results of previous studies (Imhasly et al, 2015;Van den Top et al, 2005;Kessler et al, 2014).…”

“…The temporary drop in phospholipids levels on the day of parturition may be due to an increase in phospholipase activity in order to gain energy (Jacobs et al, 2013). In addition to insufficient hepatic VLDL secretion, the decrease in triglyceride levels and concomitant rise in phospholipids after parturition may be due to an increase in mammary lipoprotein lipase activity (Van den Top et al, 2005) in order to satisfy the energy requirements and the fat mammary gland transfer for milk yield (Fiore et al, 2014;Imhasly et al, 2015). Serum Total-Chol and LDL values showed a decrease from the prepartum to the postpartum period, whereas HDLs showed lower values 15 and 30 days after calving with respect to prepartum.…”

“…The excessive fat mobilization can induce an imbalance in the hepatic carbohydrate F. Arfuso et al: Lipid and lipoprotein profile changes in dairy cows and fat metabolism, which may result in metabolic disorders such as ketosis, which is related to other diseases including a retained placenta, uterine infection, milk fever and mastitis (Imhasly et al, 2015). Many transition period disorders, including fatty liver, also occur in a subclinical form affecting the overall health status, milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows (Imhasly et al, 2015).…”

Analysis of hepatic transcript profile and plasma lipid profile in early lactating dairy cows fed grape seed and grape marc meal extract

“…A common feature of these phospholipids is their requirement for the secretion of hepatic TAG as very low-density lipoprotein particles. Thus, an increased formation and secretion of these phospholipids after birth has been regarded as a means of the liver to prevent accumulation of lipids [88]. In the present study, we observed that concentrations of all the individual phospholipids, and even their molecular species, in plasma of dairy cows in week 1 postpartum are not influenced by feeding GSGME.…”

“…Recently, it has been observed that hepatic metabolism of glycerol- and ether phospholipids is closely linked to plasma concentrations of NEFA, BHBA and glucose, three key factors of the metabolic status of dairy cows during early lactation [20]. Imhashly et al [88] recently showed, using lipidomic analysis of plasma, that concentrations of some unsaturated PC, LPC and SM species (such as PC 36:4, PC 36:5, PC 36:6, LPC 18:1, LPC 18:2, LPC 18:3, SM 39:1, SM 43:3) in dairy cows are continuously increasing after birth. A common feature of these phospholipids is their requirement for the secretion of hepatic TAG as very low-density lipoprotein particles.…”