Occurrence of Ateliosis in Japanese Black Calves and their Secretory Function of Growth Hormone

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Unthrifty calves occurred sporadically in Japanese Black (beef cattle) in an area in northeastern Japan. The states of unthrifty development, pedigree, clinico-biochemistry and the secretory function of bovine growth hormone (bGH) in pituitary were investigated. The total cholesterol concentration and CK, AST and LDH activities in the serum showed higher values than those of control calves. Basal bGH concentrations in the serum and bGH secretory reactivity in the insulin tolerance test (ITT) were showed to be significantly lower than those of the control calves. Furthermore, sperm donated from a specific bull had been used for these unthrifty calves. This study suggested that the present occurrence of unthrifty calves represented ateliosis possibly caused by congenital hypopituitar ism which decreased of bGH secretory function. KEY WORDS: ateliosis in calf, GH deficiency, Japanese Black.

Endocrine Patterns in Two Strains of Japanese Black Cattle with Growth Retardation

“…Thus, strain-specific endocrine and metabolic features should be considered as well as their meat characteristics. Some researchers have considered growth retardation in Japanese black cattle to be intimately related to pedigree and to be hereditary [9,14,15]. Our data above might support their conclusions.…”

“…In fact, some researchers have considered familial hypothyroidism to be a primary cause of growth retardation [14,15]. Moreover, it was previously reported that hypothyroidism in Japanese black cattle with growth retardation in the central Japan region showed euthyroid sick syndrome caused by malnutrition and astasia [8].…”

“…Kitagawa et al [9] reported that cattle with growth retardation showed a high growth hormone (GH) concentration in spite of a low insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. Moreover, Oguro et al [15] concluded that the occurrence of ateliotic cattle is associated with the choice of a specific sire. Insufficient growth of cattle, except for hereditary diseases, has collectively been called "growth retardation", regardless of the fact that its variations and clinical features have yet to be clarified.…”

Carrier Rate of Factor XI Deficiency in Stunted Japanese Black Cattle

“…It has been suggested that neonatal weak calf syndrome is associated with asiderotic anemia and immunodeficiency [16], and that hypogenesis syndrome is associated with growth hormone (GH) deficiency [17], insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency in contrast with hypersecretion of GH [5,6,11,26], primary or secondary underactive thyroid function [5,6,24,30] and other factors.…”

Results of Metabolic Profile Test in Japanese Black Cattle with Growth Retardation

“…To reduce such losses, researchers have attempted to determine the cause of the growth retardation [5,6]. However, nutriture of the cattle with growth retardation has yet to be clarified.…”