Changes in fatty acids in plasma and association with the inflammatory response in dairy cows abomasally infused with essential fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid during late and early lactation

Abstract

Dairy cows are exposed to increased inflammatory processes in the transition period from late pregnancy to early lactation. Essential fatty acids (EFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are thought to modulate the inflammatory response in dairy cows. The present study investigated the effects of a combined EFA and CLA infusion on the fatty acid (FA) status in plasma lipids, and whether changes in the FA pattern were associated with the acute phase and inflammatory response during late pregnancy and early lactation. Rumen-cannulated Holstein cows (n = 40) were assigned from wk 9 antepartum to wk 9 postpartum to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Cows were abomasally supplemented with coconut oil (CTRL, 76 g/d), linseed and safflower oil (EFA, 78 g/d of linseed oil and 4 g/d of safflower oil; ratio of oils = 19.5:1; n -6: n -3 FA ratio = 1:3), Lutalin (CLA, 38 g/d;; each 10 g/d), or both (EFA+CLA). Blood samples were taken to measure changes in FA in blood plasma on d −63, −42, 1, 28, and 56, and in plasma lipid fractions (cholesterol esters, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides) on d −42, 1, and 56 relative to calving, and in erythrocyte membrane (EM) on d 56 after calving. Traits related to the acute phase response and inflammation were measured in blood throughout the study. Liver samples were obtained for biopsy on d −63, −21, 1, 28, and 63 relative to calving to measure the mRNA abundance of genes related to the inflammatory response. The concentrations of α-linolenic acid and n-3 FA metabolites increased in lipid fractions (especially phospholipids) and EM due to EFA supplementation with higher α-linolenic acid but lower n-3 metabolite concentrations in EFA+CLA than in EFA treatment only. Concentration of linoleic acid decreased in plasma fat toward calving and increased during early lactation in all groups. Concentration of plasma arachidonic acid was lower in EFA-than in non-EFA-treated groups in lipid fractions and EM. The cis-9,trans-11 CLA increased in all lipid fractions and EM after both CLA treatments. Plasma haptoglobin was lowered by EFA treatment before calving. Plasma bilirubin was lower in EFA and CLA than in CTRL at calving. Plasma concentration of IL-1β was higher in EFA than in CTRL and EFA+CLA at certain time points before and after calving. Plasma fibrinogen dropped faster in CLA than in EFA and EFA+CLA on d 14 postpartum. Plasma paraoxonase tended to be elevated by EFA treatment, and was higher in EFA+CLA than in CTRL on d 49. Hepatic mRNA abundance revealed time changes but no treatment effects with respect to the inflammatory response. Our data confirmed the enrichment of n-3 FA in EM by EFA treatment and the inhibition of n-3 FA desaturation by CLA treatment. The elevated n-3 FA status and reduced n -6: n -3 ratio by EFA treatment indicated a more distinct effect on the inflammatory response during the transition period than the single CLA treatment, and the combined EFA+CLA treatment caused minor additional changes on the antiinflammatory response.

Modulation of colostrum composition and fatty acid status in neonatal calves by maternal supplementation with essential fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid starting in late lactation

“…Fetal n-3 synthesis by elongation and desaturation of ALA cannot be excluded (Shand et al, 1978;Elmes et al, 2004), but the present study suggests that the n-3 FA metabolites in fetal blood most likely resulted from the dam through placental transfer. All measured n-3 FA increased in maternal blood plasma after EFA or EFA+CLA treatment, and plasma concentrations of EPA, DPA, and DHA were elevated in EFA-supplemented dams during late gestation and around calving, as shown in Supplemental Table S3 and illustrated in more detail by Gnott et al (2020). α-Linolenic acid can serve as a precursor for the synthesis of n-3 FA metabolites in the placenta, which possesses significant desaturase activity in ruminants (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2008;Garcia et al, 2014a).…”

“…To estimate the activity of Δ 5 , Δ 6 , and Δ 9 desaturase, the desaturase indices were calculated as the ratio [product]: [precursor + product] (Kelsey et al, 2003;Nudda et al, 2008). To estimate the relationship between calf and maternal FA, data on the FA composition in maternal plasma and colostrum from d 1 were obtained from Vogel et al 2020and Gnott et al (2020).…”

“…α-Linolenic acid can serve as a precursor for the synthesis of n-3 FA metabolites in the placenta, which possesses significant desaturase activity in ruminants (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2008;Garcia et al, 2014a). In addition, the enrichment of DHA in plasma fat of the calves immediately after birth was approximately 8-fold higher than in plasma fat of their dams, especially when comparing calves and cows of the EFA treatment (Gnott et al, 2020). Even though placental transfer of PUFA is low, an increased proportion of DHA but not ALA in the plasma fat of newborn calves was already observed by Moallem and Zachut (2012).…”

Effects of a Maternal Essential Fatty Acid and Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation during Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation on Hematologic and Immunological Traits and the Oxidative and Anti-Oxidative Status in Blood Plasma of Neonatal Calves

“…The continuous increase of plasma cholesterol in the calves was in accordance with the increase in plasma cholesterol after parturition in dams [ 19 ]. The lower plasma cholesterol concentration on day 2 of life in the EFA calves was probably a consequence of lower milk fat content in the colostrum of the dams supplemented with EFA [ 26 ].…”

“…They are involved in cytokine modulation and immunoglobulin synthesis; they are able to influence the anti-oxidative status and the proliferation of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In cows, CLA influenced the fibrinogen release in the transition period [ 19 ]. Furthermore, CLA have inhibitory effects on the production of reactive oxygen species and the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bovine mammary epithelial cells [ 20 ].…”