Technical note: time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for growth hormone in ruminants

Prepubertal predictors for fertility in dairy cattle: potential use of metabolic hormones

The length and severity of negative energy balance postpartum is unfavourably correlated (genetically & phenotypically) with interval to first ovulation (de Vries & Veerkamp, 2000). During this period concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA), glucose, growth hormone (GH), insulin, insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and other hormones, all of which have links with many aspects of reproduction, are altered. A moderate heritability and genetic correlation between these parameters in the female and male (who is ultimately of most use for selection purposes) calf with female fertility could allow juvenile selection for fertility. With this in mind the objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of FFA, glucose, GH, insulin and IGF-1 concentration in male and female calves.

Production of polyclonal antibodies directed to recombinant methionyl bovine somatotropin

The administration of recombinant methionyl bovine somatotropin (rMbST) to dairy cows to increase milk yield remains a common practice in many countries including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Korea, whereas it has been forbidden within the European Union (EU) since 1999. A rapid screening immunoanalytical method capable of the unequivocal determination of rMbST in milk would be highly desirable in order to effectively monitor compliance with the EU-wide ban for home-made or imported dairy products. For decades, the production of specific antibodies for this recombinant isoform of bovine somatotropin (bST) has remained elusive, due to the high degree of sequence homology between both counterparts (e.g. methionine for rMbST in substitution of alanine in bST at the N-terminus). In this study, we compared several immunizing strategies for the production of specific polyclonal antibodies (pAbs), based on the use of the full-length recombinant protein, an rMbST N-terminus peptide fragment and a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) which consists of an oligomeric branching lysine core attached to the first two N-terminus amino acids of rMbST, methionine and phenylalanine (MF-MAP). The immunization with KLH-conjugated MF-MAP led to the production of the pAb with the highest rMbST/bST recognition ratio amongst the generated battery of antibodies. The pAb exhibited a specific binding ability to rMbST in a competitive antigen-coated ELISA format, which avidity was further improved after purification by rMbST N-terminus peptide-based affinity chromatography. These results suggest that immunodiscrimination between structurally related proteins can be achieved using immuno-enhanced immunogens such as MAPs.

Metabolic Regulation in Danish Bull Calves and the Relationship to the Fertility of Their Female Offspring

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic variation of free fatty acids (FFA), glucose, growth hormone (GH), and insulin in juvenile male dairy calves and to assess the relationships, if present, with the fertility of their female offspring. This study used data from 1,498 (269.5 d of age +/- 11.1) male calves from a multiple ovulation and embryo transfer breeding scheme (data collected from 1997 to 2002). Calves were Danish Holstein (n = 1,047), Danish Jersey (n = 200), and Red Dane (n = 251), and were sampled following an overnight fast at approximately 9 mo of age. Plasma samples were assayed for basal FFA, glucose, GH, and insulin. Estimated breeding values of female fertility (high values indicating better fertility), based on progeny-test results for approximately 100 daughters per sire, were available for a subset (n = 810) of the male calves as adult sires. Data from Danish Holstein alone or Danish Holstein, Red Dane, and Danish Jersey combined (all breeds) were analyzed for each trait. In both data sets, the estimates of heritabilities of glucose (0.27 +/- 0.06), FFA (0.11 +/- 0.05), and insulin (0.21 +/- 0.06) were moderate, and that of GH (0.09 +/- 0.05) was low. Correlations of estimated breeding values for fertility traits with glucose and FFA breeding values were negative, indicating that male calves with high glucose or FFA had female offspring with reduced fertility. Selection for bull calves with lower concentrations of glucose and FFA following an overnight fast could result in female offspring with genetically better fertility. Glucose and FFA may therefore be of interest to enhance selection for improved female fertility, as a measurement in young bulls.

Variation in plasma growth hormone during first parity in lactating cows1

This study analyzed genetic and phenotypic variation in plasma GH during lactation in first parity dairy cows. The heritability and repeatability were examined using an algorithm for separation of basal and peak concentrations and different power transformations. Blood samples were obtained 17 times during first parity in 85 Holstein, 67 Red Dane, and 62 Jersey cows and assayed for GH. Each breed comprised 2 genetic groups; thus, a total of 6 genetic groups were defined. Across genetic groups, cows were assigned to 1 of 2 total mixed rations with a low or a normal energy concentration. The separation algorithm identified only 4.0% of the plasma GH concentrations as peaks. After excluding peak concentrations, the repeatability of GH during lactation was improved. A log-transformation was found appropriate for GH. The log-transformed GH concentrations for lactating dairy cows had a heritability ranging between 0.14 in early lactation to 0.08 in mid and late lactation. The repeatability was 0.24 in early lactation and increased to between 0.58 and 0.61 in mid and late lactation. We conclude that for GH concentrations in lactating cows that are sampled infrequently, the exclusion of peak values to obtain a basal GH concentration was not effective in clarifying phenotypic or genetic effects.

Cell Turnover and Activity in Mammary Tissue During Lactation and the Dry Period in Dairy Cows

Milk yield of the dairy cow follows a pattern termed the lactation curve. We have investigated the cellular background for this pattern. Seven mammary biopsies were obtained from each of 10 cows: at the end of lactation (d 347, equal to d 77 before next parturition); during the dry period at d 48 (4 d after dry off); 16 d before parturition; and during lactation at d 14, 42, 88, and 172. The fraction of proliferating (staining positive for Ki-67) alveolar cells was higher during the dry period (8.6%) than during lactation (0.5%). The fraction of apoptotic (staining positive by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) alveolar cells was higher immediately after dry off (0.37%) and in early lactation (0.76%) than during other periods (0.15%). The enzyme activities of fatty acid synthetase, acetyl CoA-carboxylase, and galactosyl transferase were approximately 12-, 11-, and 4-fold higher, respectively, during lactation than during the dry period. In conclusion, mammary cell proliferation is substantial in a period near parturition but otherwise low, and apoptosis is elevated at dry off and in early lactation. The increase in apoptosis in early lactation may be due to discarding nonfunctional or senescent cells or to removal of a surplus of newly synthesized cells. The activity of selected enzymes central for milk synthesis is probably not limiting for milk production.

A monoclonal antibody-based time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for chloramphenicol in shrimp and chicken muscle

A time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) in shrimp and chicken muscle was developed. The method was based on a direct competitive immunoassay using europium-labeled anti-CAP monoclonal antibody (MAb) and CAP-ovalbumin as coated antigen. The limit of detection was 0.05 ng g(-1) and limit of quantification was 0.1 ng g(-1). Recoveries ranged from 101.2 to 112.5% for shrimp and 104.9 to 115.3% for chicken muscle at spiked levels of 0.1-5 ng g(-1), with intra-assay and inter-assay variations 8.7-14.6 and 9.6-17.8%, respectively. The results obtained by the TR-FIA and ELISA correlated well. The established TR-FIA was validated for the determination of incurred shrimp samples and confirmed by gas chromatography with microcell electron capture detector (GC-microECD).

Serum from heifer calves treated with bovine growth hormone affects the rate of proliferation of C2C12 myogenic cells dependent on the plane of nutrition: the role of insulin-like growth factor-I and IGF-binding proteins-2 and -3

The present in vitro experiments were carried out in order to study whether variations in the bovine growth hormone (bGH)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I axis induced by plane of nutrition and bGH treatment of heifer calves caused variations in serum-induced proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts. Serum was obtained from two groups each of six heifer calves (195 +/- 8 kg) before (d -1) and after treatment with 15 mg/day of bGH for 6 days (d 6) fed either a low (GHL) or a high plane (GHH) of nutrition. Preceding the experiment all 12 heifer calves were fed at the low plane of nutrition. At d 6, serum concentrations of insulin and IGF-I were increased while that of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-2 was decreased in GHH, but unchanged in GHL calves. Serum-induced proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts, was elevated at d 6 by GHH treatment. Especially human IGFBP-3 but also bovine IGFBP-2 added to cell cultures inhibited the rate of proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts stimulated by human IGF-I. The present results showed that GH treatment causes changes in the GH/IGF axis, which leads to changes in serum-induced growth of C2C12 muscle cells dependent on the plane of nutrition that mimic in vivo effects of GH treatment, which indicate an endocrine contribution of the IGF system. However, drawbacks of this suggestion are discussed.