Role of Plasma Fatty Acids, Prostaglandins and Antioxidant Balance in Bovine Mastitis

Abstract

Summary Plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFA) were measured in cows with mastitis. FFA levels are known to be elevated in milk of affected cows, and similar increases were now observed in blood plasma. Of the long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which serve as precursors for prostaglandins (PGs), leukotrienes (LT) and related eicosanoids, arachidonic acid (C20: 4 ω−6) was elevated by 156 per cent and C20: 3 (consisting of both ω, −3 and ω −6) 153 per cent; eicosapentaenoic acid (20: 5 ω −3), not present in the plasma of healthy animals, was detected in blood of mastitic animals. Arachidonic acid correlated positively with the plasma levels of PGs. Total plasma phospholipids were increased as well, and they were positively correlated with the levels of linoleic and arachidonic acids. Changes in FFA levels correlated positively with parameters of inflammation, like bovine serum albumin and serum N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase, but negatively with the antioxidant status of the animals (vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase). As PGs and LTs are mediators of inflammation, and products of lipid peroxidation, the increase of plasma FFA could be related to tissue damage caused by oxygen free radicals. Similar processes are, however, involved also in host defence, e.g. in oxidative killing of pathogens. Zusammenfassung Zur Rolle der Plasma‐Fettsäuren und ‐Prostaglandine sowie des AntioxydansGleichgewichts bei der bovinen Mastitis Die Plasma‐Konzentrationen der freien Fettsäuren (FFA) wurden bei Kühen mit Mastitis gemessen. Es ist bekannt, daß die FFA‐Spiegel in der Milch solcher Tiere erhöht sind. ähnliche Konzentrationszunahmen ergaben sich nunmehr im Plasma. Von den langkettigen vielfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren, die als Vorstufen für die Bildung von Prostaglandinen (PG), Leukotrienen (LT) und von verwandten Eicosanoiden dienen, war die Arachidonsäure (C20:4 ω−6) um 156% und die C20: 3 (aus ω‐3 und ω−6 zusammengesetzt) um 153% erhöht; die Eicosapentaensäure (20: 5 ω‐3), die im Plasma gesunder Tiere nicht vorhanden war, wurde im Plasma von Tieren mit Mastitis gefunden. Der Plasma‐Arachidonsäure‐Spiegel war mit dem Plasma‐PG‐Spiegel positiv korreliert. Die Gesamt‐Plasma‐Phospholipide waren ebenfalls erhöht. Sie waren mit dem Plasma‐Linolsäure‐und Arachidonsäure‐Spiegeln positiv korreliert. Die Veränderung der FFA‐Spiegel waren mit Entzündungs‐Parametern wie dem Serumalbumin und der Serum‐N‐Azetyl‐β‐D‐Glucosaminidase positiv korreliert; mit dem Antioxydans‐Status (Vitamin E; Glutathion‐Peroxidase) waren sie negativ korreliert. Da PG und LT Entzündungs‐Mediatoren und Produkte der Lipid‐Peroxidation darstellen, könnte die Zunahme der FFA des Plasmas mit der durch Sauerstoffradikale bedingten Gewebsschädigung im Zusammenhang stehen. ähnliche Vorgänge spielen jedoch auch bei der Wirts‐Abwehr, wie z. B. bei der oxydativen Abtötung von pathogenen Keimen, eine Rolle.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids influence differential biosynthesis of oxylipids and other lipid mediators during bovine coliform mastitis

“…The variety of oxylipids expressed in both milk and plasma in this study represented some of the well-known enzymatic and nonenzymatic oxylipid biosynthetic pathways. Earlier studies on bovine coliform mastitis reported a few select prostanoids including PGE 2 , PGF 2α , and thromboxane B 2 in milk using immunoassay based detection techniques (Atroshi et al, 1989a). In the current study, the use of LC-MS/MS provided a more robust methodology to identify an expanded oxylipid network during acute bovine coliform mastitis.…”

Possible involvement of selenium inStaphylococcus aureusinhibition in cow's whey

“…Generally, our study shows together with our earlier reports (Ali‐Vehmas et al., 1997; Malbe et al., 2003) that selenium may contribute to the protection of mammary gland from invading bacteria. Free radical generation and oxidative injury are thought to be important mechanisms contributing to morbidity, including mastitis (Atroshi et al., 1987, 1989, 2000). However, the mechanism by which the release of O 2 results in bactericidal effects is poorly understood, but is generally held to be related to the further generation of more reactive radical species, such as OH • , singlet oxygen and hypochlorite or hypothiocyanate (Del Maestro, 1980).…”

“…Studies in dairy cows have shown that selenium deficiency is associated with nutritional muscular dystrophy, cystic ovaries, retained placental membranes, metritis and infertility (Jukola et al., 1996; Hemingway, 2003). Other studies have shown evidence that selenium deficiency is associated with increased prevalence to intramammary infections (Smith et al., 1984, 1997; Atroshi et al., 1987, 1989; Erskine et al., 1989, 1990; Malbe et al., 1995; Ryan, 1995).…”

Enhanced n-3 phospholipid content reduces inflammatory responses in bovine endothelial cells

“…Oxygenation of arachidonic acid (cis C20:4n-6) through the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways, for example, produces several proinflammatory prostaglandins (PG), thromboxanes (TX), leukotrienes (LT), and hydroxyl derivatives such as hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE). Increased expression of PGE 2 , PGF 2α , and TXB 2 derived from the COX2 pathway can be detected in the sera and tissues of cows during the pathogenesis of mastitis (Atroshi et al, 1989;Boutet et al, 2003). Alternatively, metabolism of n-3 FA including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, cis C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, cis C22:6n-3) through the COX and LOX pathways leads to the production of proresolving eicosanoids called resolvins (RD) and protectins (PD; Serhan, 2009).…”