Changes of biochemical environment and body weight in healthy periparturient Lipizzan mares

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine, potassium, sodium, urea, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, insulin, insulin growth factor 1, and glucose in the blood serum and to monitor the body weight changes in nine clinically healthy Lipizzan mares at weekly intervals within 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the parturition. A significant body weight loss (P < 0.01) was found in the mares after the foaling. The peak of insulin growth factor 1 concentration in serum was reached at the day of parturition and similar patterns were revealed for the concentrations of insulin and glucose. After parturition, all these indices were significantly decreased. The concentrations of phosphorus and triacylglycerols were decreased, while the concentrations of potassium and sodium were increased at the day of parturition. Moreover, the concentration of non-esterified fatty acids was increased at the day of parturition (P < 0.05) with a tendency to higher values even on the 7 th day postpartum. Other studied indexes remained relatively stable throughout the transition period. We can conclude that periparturient mares face some degree of negative energy balance with concomitant significant homeostatic and homeorhetic changes. For this reason, our results can be used as a basis for reference values and a diagnostic tool to examine the health status in horses during the transition period. Horse, metabolic indices, transition phase, homeostatic changes, homeorhetic changesThe peripartal period is a very challenging interval of life of dams due to the decreased feed intake in the late gestation that is accompanied by the increasing metabolic demands of the foetus, and then after the parturition due to the onset of milk production to cover the nutritional requirements of the offspring as well as for the postpartum (p.p.) recovery of the dam. It is well understood mostly from research performed on high-yielding animals, that all these events trigger different cascades of metabolic reactions as a part of the adaptation mechanisms of the organism of the dam concomitant to the transition from the pregnant non-lactating state to the non-pregnant lactating state. From the physiological point of view, the endocrine changes in mares around the parturition have been well described but only limited literature data are available in the field of biochemistry. It is known that especially during the transition period, both pregnant and lactating mares are highly vulnerable to various health disorders which could lead to different productive and reproductive problems (Reed et al. 2010). For this reason, it is recommended to perform a set of metabolic blood tests in dams over the transition to determine the dynamics of homeostatic and homeorhetic changes, and thus predict the course of puerperium in these animals. In general, the assessment of energy balance (non-esterified fatty ac...

Biochemical profile of Mangalarga Marchador mares during the last third of pregnancy, foaling and lactation

“…The observed variation in macrominerals corroborated the results from other studies HURA et al, 2017). Indeed, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are all components of important regulatory molecules (HURA et al, 2017). Mineral deposition in the fetus occurs during the last two months of pregnancy, suggesting increasing intensity in fetal development (KAVAZIS et al, 2002).…”

“…Therefore, it is required a better understanding of female biochemical profiles across different physiological states and species (BERLIN & AROCH, 2009). The observed variation in macrominerals corroborated the results from other studies HURA et al, 2017). Indeed, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are all components of important regulatory molecules (HURA et al, 2017).…”

“…While all magnesium levels were higher than the reference value for horses (0.9-1.15 mmol/L) (KANEKO et al, 2008), it was observed low concentrations around foaling (T15 and T30). These patterns are in contrast to previous studies showing either unchanged magnesium levels (HURA et al, 2017), or a foaling and postpartum increase (MARIELLA et al, 2014). Magnesium present in bones is involved in muscle contraction (MARIELLA et al, 2014) and neuromuscular activity (GONZÁLES & SILVA, 2006).…”

“…For instance, potassium and creatinine concentrations are lower during lactation than during pregnancy (HARVEY et al, 2005). Several studies have described the major biochemical characteristics of transition period mares across different breeds (MARIELLA et al, 2014;VINCZE et al, 2015;HURA et al, 2017). To understand how different physiological conditions in the last third of pregnancy, foaling and lactation affect mares, the aim of the research was to evaluate the biochemical profile of Mangalarga Marchador mares during the last third of pregnancy, foaling and lactation.…”

“…This phase occurs to higher fetal metabolic demand. Post foaling energetic demands continue with milk production to meet foal nutritional needs, while mares also require energy to recover in the postpartum period (HURA et al, 2017).…”