Depôt Fat Mobilization and Liver Lipogenesis and Ketogenesis in Ovine Pregnancy Toxaemia and the Effects of Corticotrophin Administration

Pregnancy impairs ketone body disposal in late gestating ewes: Implications for onset of pregnancy toxaemia

The impact of pregnancy on ketone body disposal during a hyperketonaemic clamp was examined by tracer isotope dilution techniques in seven 12 h fasted sheep in three reproductive states, in the dry non-gestating period, late in gestation and during early lactation. After a sampling period of 60 min under basal conditions a DL-BHB racemate solution was continuously infused intravenously for 3 h at rates of 14.3-24.3 micromol/(kg min) to elevate the D-BHB concentration in blood plasma to values between 5 and 7 mmol/l. Two separate experiments were carried out with the same sheep in each of the three reproductive states. During pregnancy three ewes were pregnant with a single lamb and four ewes carried twins. Maximal D-BHB turnover rates fell significantly in late gestation by 26% relative to early lactation and by 22% when compared with the dry non-pregnant state. Reduction of maximal D-BHB disposal rate during late gestation was accompanied by a significant 297% (p<0.005) and a non-significant 49% increase in the basal BHB concentration in blood, a non-significant 10% and 4% decrease in the rate constant of D-BHB turnover and a non-significant 24% and 13% rise in the incremented increase of D-BHB concentration per unit D-BHB infusion, relative to the dry and the lactating period, respectively. Induction of hyperketonaemia significantly lowered NEFA and glycerol concentrations in blood by 67% and 57%, respectively, compared to the pre-infusional concentrations. The magnitude of this effect was the same in all reproductive states and was explained as a direct antilipolytic action of D-BHB on adipose tissue. It is concluded that the reduced ability of the late gestating ewe to utilize D-BHB promotes hyperketonaemia. Since hyperketonaemia exerts several adverse effects, e.g. on energy balance and glucose metabolism it appears that the impairment of ketone bodies disposal in late pregnancy facilitates development of pregnancy toxaemia, especially in ewes carrying twins.

Studies of liver lipids in normal, alloxan-diabetic and pregnancy-toxaemic sheep

Triacylglycerols were the major lipid class in the fatty livers from alloxan-diabetic sheep and those suffering from pregnancy toxaemia, with the concentrations increased by 15- and 25-fold, respectively, compared with the normal state. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of total liver triacylglycerols in these animals showed a significant decrease in the proportion of saturated fatty acids, 16:0 and 18:0, and increase in the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2 omega 6, 18:3 omega 3 and 20:4 omega 6), particularly in those with pregnancy toxaemia. In contrast, total liver phospholipids showed a significant increase in the proportion of 18:0 in ewes with pregnancy toxaemia and a significant decrease in a range of polyunsaturated fatty acids in both the diabetic and toxaemic animals. Also, although the concentration of both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine increased in the diabetic livers the ratio of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine fell significantly, from 2.22 in the control animals to 1.59. The data suggest that, following the large influx of plasma fatty acids into the ovine liver in diabetes and pregnancy toxaemia, there is a diversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids from phospholipids to triacylglycerols. In diabetic sheep these changes may in turn affect phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the methylation pathway in liver. These changes in lipid composition may, in part, explain the degenerative changes in membrane and subcellular organelle structure and the failure of liver function observed both in advanced diabetes and in severe pregnancy toxaemia.

The relation between ketone bodies, glucose and minerals contents in bovine blood under various physiological conditions

The interrelationship between the concentration of ketone bodies, glucose, minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Cl) in serum and in TCA soluble whole blood under different physiological conditions in 110 cows was investigated. There was a certain relationship (partly high significant) between the mineral content, ketone bodies and glucose levels in blood. However, there is no clear explanation for the qualification of blood minerals as an indicator of the content of ketone bodies and glucose in serum and whole blood. The age of animals and the seasons had no influence on the concentration of ketone bodies in serum and whole blood. Significant positive relationship was found between the time of lactation, pregnancy and serum glucose and negative relation with ketone bodies. There was no correlation between milk production and ketone bodies. The hours after feeding were positively correlated with ketone bodies.

Nutritional disorders of ruminants

Metabolic fuels of the ruminant consist mainly of volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen by microbial digestion of dietary polysaccharides and amino acids derived from dietary protein. As almost no glucose is obtained directly from its food, any specific requirements for this sugar are met by synthesizing it from non-carbohydrate sources: principally propionate and the glucogenic amino acids.

Metabolic and hormonal aspects of bovine ketosis and pregnancy toxaemia in the ewe

Metabolic fuels of the ruminant consist mainly of volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen by microbial digestion of dietary polysaccharides and amino acids derived from dietary protein. As almost no glucose is obtained directly from its food, any specific requirements for this sugar are met by synthesizing it from non-carbohydrate sources: principally propionate and the glucogenic amino acids.