Review: Lipid biology in the periparturient dairy cow: contemporary perspectives

Abstract

Coordinated changes in energy metabolism develop to support gestation and lactation in the periparturient dairy cow. Maternal physiology involves the partitioning of nutrients (i.e. glucose, amino acids and fatty acids (FA)) for fetal growth and milk synthesis. However, the inability of the dairy cow to successfully adapt to a productive lactation may trigger metabolic stress characterized by uncontrolled adipose tissue lipolysis and reduced insulin sensitivity. A consequence is lipotoxicity and hepatic triglyceride deposition that favors the development of fatty liver disease (FLD) and ketosis. This review describes contemporary perspectives pertaining to FA surfeit and complex lipid metabolism in the transition dairy cow. The role of saturated and unsaturated FA as bioactive signaling molecules capable of modulating insulin secretion and sensitivity is explored. Moreover, the metabolic fate of FA as influenced by mitochondrial function is considered. This includes the influence of inadequate mitochondrial oxidation on acylcarnitine status and the use of FA for lipid mediator synthesis. Lipid mediators, including the sphingolipid ceramide and diacylglycerol, are evaluated considering their established ability to inhibit insulin signaling and glucose transport in non-ruminant diabetics. The mechanisms of FLD in the transition cow are revisited with attention centered on glycerophospholipid phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride secretion. The relationship between oxidative stress and oxylipids within the context of insulin antagonism, hepatic steatosis and inflammation is also reviewed. Lastly, peripartal hormonal involvement or lack thereof of adipokines (i.e. leptin, adiponectin) and hepatokines (i.e. fibroblast growth factor-21) is described. Similarities and differences in ruminant and non-ruminant physiology are routinely showcased. Unraveling the lipidome of the dairy cow has generated breakthroughs in our understanding of periparturient lipid biology. Therapeutic approaches that target FA and complex lipid metabolism holds promise to enhance cow health, well-being and productive lifespan.

Advances in fatty acids nutrition in dairy cows: from gut to cells and effects on performance

“…In this review, we have provided the most up-to-date information available on utilization of dietary FA and their effects on performance and health of dairy cows. We did not cover all the possible biological effects of FA, such as the role of dietary FA on the lipidome and insulin sensitivity in dairy cows during the peripartum which were recently reviewed [145]. However, based on the literature reviewed we can make some concluding remarks and propose some prospective research for each main topic covered in the present review.…”

“…The negative role of SFA on reproduction is not fully elucidated. It is possible that SFA induce increase in systemic oxidative stress [145] or cellular ER stress damaging reproduction [364]. Induction of ER stress by SFA was observed in liver of monogastrics [365].…”

“…The importance of phospholipids for synthesis of lipoproteins in dairy cows is supported by the fact that dietary supplements that help increasing synthesis of phospholipids, such as choline [145][146][147], improve the formation of VLDL in bovine hepatocytes [148] and/or decrease accumulation of fat in the liver [145,147]. Phospholipids in intestine might not be limiting for ruminants, especially if grazing, considering the large amount of them present in chloroplasts.…”

Ketosis and its role in Bos taurus reproductive impairment

“…[26] показано, что снижение концентрации эфиров холестерина совпадает со снижением концентрации следующих жирных кислот, входящих в состав эфиров холестерина: С12, C18:3 ω 3, C20:3 ω 3, C20:5 ω 3, C22:2 ω 6, C22:6 ω 3 и C23. В целом это согласуется с тем, что насыщенные ЖК снижают чувствительность к инсулину у молочного скота, тогда как ненасыщенные ЖК (особенно n-3) усиливают действие инсулина [36].…”

The Study of the Response of Fat Metabolism to Long-Term Energy Stress Based on Serum, Fatty Acid and Transcriptome Profiles in Yaks

“…In recent years, high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has developed very quickly and offers several advantages over other transcriptome profiling methods, such as microarray analysis or real-time PCR. RNA-seq has been performed to explore the mechanism and potential candidate genes related to fat metabolism in animals, including cattle [ 10 , 11 ], cows [ 12 ], chickens [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], zebrafish [ 16 ] and pigs [ 17 , 18 ]. Studying fat metabolism in yaks under ES during cold seasons with RNA-seq can offer a unique opportunity to understand how yaks adapt to long-term ES during the cold season by regulating fat metabolism at the transcriptome level.…”