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Zoratti A, Pividori I, Comin A, Prandi A, Peric T. Validation of a commercial ELISA kit to measure 11-oxoetiocholanolone in equine and bovine feces. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024:10406387241245948. [PMID: 38616517 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241245948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Feces are a noninvasive and easily collectible matrix that may help determine cumulative hormone metabolite concentrations over medium-to-long times. To date, 11-oxoetiocholanolone, an important metabolite of cortisol, has been measured in equine and bovine feces solely by an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Therefore, we validated the use of a commercial ELISA kit (11-oxoetiocholanolone ELISA kit; Cayman Chemical), which had been validated on sheep feces and human urine, to measure 11-oxoetiocholanolone in feces from 42 horses and 32 bulls. The ELISA kit had good precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs: 5.8% and 11.2% for equine feces; 9.9% and 11.2% for bovine feces, respectively), analytical sensitivity (0.186 ng/mL for both equine and bovine feces), and accuracy (parallelism and recovery tests) in determining 11-oxoetiocholanolone concentrations in feces from both species. We found ranges of 11-oxoetiocholanolone concentrations of 1-109 ng/g in equine feces and 40-302 ng/g in feces of bulls. The Cayman Chemical ELISA kit offers a simple and accessible means of analysis of 11-oxoetiocholanolone in equine and bovine fecal samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloma Zoratti
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Girardi D, Dal Corso L, Arcucci E, Yıldırım M, Pividori I, Prandi A, Falco A. Hair dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as biomarker of employees' well-being? A longitudinal investigation of support, resilience, and work engagement during COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1337839. [PMID: 38572210 PMCID: PMC10987734 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1337839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Building on the motivational process of the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory, in the current research we investigated the longitudinal association between supervisor support/resilience as job/personal resources, work engagement (WE) and hair dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or DHEA(S), as a possible biomarker of employees' well-being. Methods In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 122 workers completed two self-report questionnaires (i.e., psychological data): the former at Time 1 (T1) and the latter three months afterwards, at Time 2 (T2). Participants also collected a strand of hair (i.e., biological data) at T2. Results Results from path analysis showed that both SS and resilience at T1 were positively related to WE at T2, which, in its turn, was positively related to hair DHEA(S) at T2. Both SS and resilience at T1 had a positive indirect effect on hair DHEA(S) at T2 through WE at T2, which fully mediated the association between job/personal resources and hair DHEA(S). Discussion Overall, results are consistent with the motivational process of the JD-R. Furthermore, this study provides preliminary evidence for the role of hair DHEA(S) as a biomarker of WE, a type of work-related subjective well-being that plays a central role in the motivational process of the JD-R, leading to favorable personal and organizational outcomes. Finally, the article outlines practical implications for organizations and professionals to foster WE within the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Girardi
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Dal Corso
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elvira Arcucci
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Murat Yıldırım
- Department of Psychology, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Ağrı, Türkiye
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Social and Educational Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alessandra Falco
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Peric T, Veronesi MC, Prandi A, Fusi J, Faustini M, Probo M. Postpartum hair cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and their ratio in beef cows: Exploring association with parity and conception outcome. Theriogenology 2024; 214:352-359. [PMID: 37979326 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Hair steroid measurement has received increasing attention for monitoring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, as it offers the advantages of being noninvasive, fast, and able to indicate steroid concentrations over long periods. The objects of the study were to evaluate cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) hair concentrations and their ratio (C/DHEA-S) in beef cows from calving to 100 days (d) postpartum (pp) and to assess possible differences related to parity (primiparous vs multiparous) and conception outcome (pregnant vs not pregnant). Hair samples were collected from 6 primiparous and 5 multiparous pregnant beef cows by clipping the coat at calving (T0) and every 20 d for 5 times (T1-T5), collecting only the regrown hair. Starting from the 6th-week pp, cows were submitted to artificial insemination at spontaneous estrus; by 100 d pp, 7 cows were pregnant and 4 were not pregnant. Statistical analysis showed higher hair C concentrations in the 11 cows at calving (T0) compared to all the subsequent samplings except for T1, and higher C concentrations at T1 compared to T3, T4, and T5. These results indicate that hair C concentrations in beef cows are affected by sampling time, with a decrease from calving, as reported in other matrices. When exploring changes within parity groups, no differences were found in the multiparous among sampling times, while hair C concentrations at T0 and T1 tended to be higher than at T2 (0.01 ≤ p < 0.05) and were higher (p < 0.01) than in all the subsequent samplings (T3, T4 and T5) within the primiparous group. Higher hair C concentrations were found at T0 and T1 in the primiparous compared to multiparous (p < 0.01), suggesting that primiparous cows undergo a greater stress level before and around parturition compared to multiparous, probably due to the novelty of the calving experience. No differences were detected in C hair concentrations according to conception outcome (pregnant versus not pregnant) in each sampling time. Hair DHEA-S concentrations were neither affected by time nor by parity or conception outcome. Differences in the C/DHEA-S ratio were found at T1, with higher C/DHEA-S in the multiparous compared to primiparous cows (p < 0.001), and a tendency for higher ratio in the not pregnant compared to the pregnant (0.01 ≤ p < 0.05). These results support the choice of hair as a valuable biological matrix when investigating long-time periods such as postpartum in cows and suggest an enhanced immunoprotective effect of DHEA-S in the postpartum of primiparous cows, and in cows that get pregnant within 100 d postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - M Probo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
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Fusi J, Veronesi MC, Prandi A, Probo M, Faustini M, Peric T. Peripubertal Testosterone, 17β-Estradiol and Progesterone Concentrations in Hair and Nails in Dobermann Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2241. [PMID: 37444039 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies about puberty in dogs are few, probably because many factors are involved in the delicate process of puberty onset, leading to difficulties in the proper enrollment of subjects. Moreover, the use of blood for monitoring hormonal changes can be problematic, and not feasible for long-term studies. Hair and nails proved to be suitable matrices for the retrospective evaluation of hormones' long-term accumulation. This study was performed using hair and nails for the evaluation of testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations to assess possible sexual steroid changes during the peripubertal period in dogs. The results, obtained on five males and five females, showed a significant increase in T in hair and nails of males immediately before puberty. In females, a significant increase in E2 at puberty and a marked increase in P4 after puberty was found in both biological specimens. Sex-related differences were detected only for T hair concentrations, but when the sex and sampling time were considered together, hair and nails T and nails P4 concentrations allowed us to discern between male and female dogs at specific sampling times. The results from this study showed that hair and nails are useful biological specimens for the retrospective evaluation of changes in T, E2 and P4 concentrations in peripubertal dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Monica Probo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Massimo Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Peric T, Ellero L, Comin A, Pividori I, Prandi A. Validation of an ELISA kit to measure allopregnanolone in human and equine hair. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023; 35:354-358. [PMID: 37114774 PMCID: PMC10331396 DOI: 10.1177/10406387231171045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, allopregnanolone plays important roles in a number of different neurodegenerative disorders, and it has been proposed for use in some therapies. Horses are commonly used as animal models for human neurodegenerative diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders, and there is interest in using hair as a biological sample to study hormones in these conditions. We validated the use of a commercial ELISA kit (DetectX allopregnanolone kit; Arbor Assays), which was designed for serum, plasma, feces, urine, and tissue samples, to assess allopregnanolone in hair samples from 30 humans and 63 horses. The ELISA kit had good precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs: 6.4% and 11.0% for equine hair; 7.3% and 11.0% for human hair, respectively), sensitivity (50.4 pg/mL for both equine and human hair), and accuracy (parallelism and recovery tests) in determining allopregnanolone concentrations in hair from both species. The allopregnanolone concentrations in human hair were 7.3-79.1 pg/mg; the concentrations were 286 ± 141 pg/mg (x̄ ± SD) in mares on the day of parturition and 16.9 ± 5.5 pg/mg in nonpregnant mares. The DetectX ELISA kit offered a simple and accessible analysis of allopregnanolone in human and equine hair samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Letizia Ellero
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Cotticelli A, Navas L, Calabria A, Bifulco G, Campanile G, Peric T, Prandi A, D'Occhio MJ, Russo M. Incorporation of Testicular Ultrasonography and Hair Steroid Concentrations in Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation. Vet Sci 2023; 10:373. [PMID: 37368759 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10060373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular ultrasonography and steroid concentrations (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, testosterone) in hair were examined for their utility in the bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE). Beef and dairy bulls (n = 16; 2.7 ± 0.4 years old; body condition score 3.2 ± 0.1) of five breeds were maintained under the same conditions at an accredited semen collection center. Bulls underwent routine semen collection twice weekly for 12 weeks and semen was processed and cryopreserved. Ultrasonography and hair sampling were undertaken at the last semen collection. Bulls with homogeneous testicular parenchyma (n = 8) had a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of motile sperm post-thawing compared with bulls with heterogeneous parenchyma (n = 8). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the hair concentrations of cortisol, DHEA-S, and testosterone between bulls with homogeneous and heterogeneous parenchyma. In bulls with homogeneous parenchyma, hair DHEA-S concentration was positively correlated with percentage motile sperm (R2 = 0.76), progressively motile sperm (R2 = 0.70), and motility yield (R2 = 0.71). The findings indicate that the integration of testicular ultrasonography and hair DHEA-S status in the BBSE could provide a more comprehensive assessment of indicative fertility in bulls. Additionally, ultrasonography can be used in the BBSE when the evaluation of semen parameters is not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cotticelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Navas
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfonso Calabria
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna Bifulco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campanile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Michael J D'Occhio
- Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Marco Russo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy
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Franchini M, Peric T, Frangini L, Prandi A, Comin A, Rota M, Filacorda S. You're stressing me out! Effect of interspecific competition from red deer on roe deer physiological stress response. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Franchini
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - T. Peric
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - L. Frangini
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - A. Prandi
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - A. Comin
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - M. Rota
- Facultat de Cièncias i Tecnologia Universitat de Vic‐Universitat Central de Catalunya Vic Spain
| | - S. Filacorda
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
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Cotticelli A, Verde MT, Matera R, Pividori I, Prandi A, Neglia G, Peric T. Validation of a radioimmunoassay method for cortisol in buffalo milk whey. A preparatory step for future sensor technology. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2022.2147868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cotticelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Verde
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria elettrica e delle Tecnologie dell’Informazione, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Matera
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
| | - Gianluca Neglia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
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Fusi J, Veronesi MC, Prandi A, Meloni T, Faustini M, Peric T. Hair and Claw Dehydroepiandrosterone Concentrations in Newborn Puppies Spontaneously Dead within 30 Days of Age. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223162. [PMID: 36428389 PMCID: PMC9686924 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The latest intrauterine fetal developmental stage and the neonatal period represent the most challenging phases for mammalian offspring. Toward the term of pregnancy, during parturition, and after birth, the hypothalamic−pituitary−adrenal axis (HPA) is a key system regulating several physiologic processes, through the production of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This study was aimed to assess DHEA concentrations in hair and claws of 126 spontaneously dead newborn puppies, classified as premature puppies (PRE-P), stillborn puppies (STILL-P) and puppies that died from the 1st to the 30th day of life (NEON-P). The possible influence of newborn sex, breed body size, and timing of death on DHEA concentrations in both matrices was evaluated. Claw DHEA concentrations were higher in the PRE-P group when compared to STILL-P and NEON-P puppies (p < 0.05), whilst no significant differences were found in hair for all the studied factors. The results confirm the hypothesis that higher amounts of DHEA are produced during the intrauterine life in dogs, also in puppies that will die soon after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Tea Meloni
- Free Practitioner, DVM, Ambulatorio Veterinario Dott.ssa Tea Meloni, Via Fabio Filzi 24/28, 25063 Gardone Val Trompia, Italy
| | - Massimo Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Mollo A, Agazzi A, Prandi A, Fusi J, De Amicis I, Probo M. Metabolic and production parameters of dairy cows with different dry period lengths and parities. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:354-362. [PMID: 34792484 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To assess the effects of dry period (DP) length on metabolic, reproductive, and productive parameters, second- (SP) and third- (TP) parity cows were assigned to a traditional (9 weeks, T) or short (5 weeks, S) DP, obtaining four subgroups: second-parity cows with traditional (SPT = 8) and short (SPS = 8) DP, third-parity cows with traditional (TPT = 8) and short (TPS = 10) DP. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were assessed from 5 weeks before to 14 weeks after parturition. IGF-I concentrations were affected by parity (P < 0.05) and by the interaction of time and DP length (P < 0.01). NEFA levels were affected only by time (P < 0.01). S DP cows showed a shorter interval between calving and ovarian cyclicity resumption (P < 0.01) and a higher milk yield (P < 0.01) and fat and protein corrected milk (P < 0.01) compared with T DP cows. Decreased milk protein content was found in the SPS group compared to the SPT (P < 0.05) and the TPS (P < 0.05) group. In conclusion, a short DP length does not affect reproductive performances, except for hastening the resumption of ovarian cyclicity. A short DP appears to increase milk production and is associated with higher IGF-I levels both in the prepartum and the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mollo
- 1 Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Alessandro Agazzi
- 2 Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety 'Carlo Cantoni', Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- 3 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Jasmine Fusi
- 4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | | | - Monica Probo
- 4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
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Probo M, Peric T, Fusi J, Prandi A, Faustini M, Veronesi MC. Hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations in healthy beef calves from birth to 6 months of age. Theriogenology 2021; 175:89-94. [PMID: 34517287 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are recognized as the main fetal steroids, and they are likely to influence fetal development and have long-term effects on newborn hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function. DHEA is often measured as its sulfates and expressed as DHEA-S. Hair analysis represents a promising methodological approach for the non-invasive measurement of steroids, allowing for a retrospective analysis of the total exposure to steroids over time, and avoiding the influence of acute events or circadian fluctuations. Hair cortisol and DHEA concentrations have been investigated in cows, but no studies have been performed on calves. The object of this study was to evaluate hair cortisol (HC) and hair DHEA-S (HDHEA-S) concentrations in beef calves from birth to six months of age. Hair samples of 12 beef calves (seven males, five females) were firstly collected at birth (T1) and then every three weeks up to six months of age (T2-T10), collecting only the re-grown hair. HC and HDHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Calves sex, weight and APGAR score were registered immediately after birth. Statistical analysis revealed that both HC and HDHEA-S were influenced by sampling time (P < 0.001). HC concentrations were higher at T1 compared to all subsequent samplings (T2-T10, P < 0.01); HC concentrations were higher at T2 compared to T4-T10 (P < 0.01), while no further changes were detected from T3 onward. Higher HDHEA-S concentrations were registered at T1, T2 and T3 compared to all the other samplings (P < 0.01). No correlation was found between hair concentrations of both steroids and calf sex or birthweight. APGAR score was negatively correlated only with HC at birth (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that C and DHEA-S are quantifiable in the hair of calves and are influenced by their age. The higher HC detected at birth (T1) probably reflects the high serum C concentrations present late in pregnancy and increased by the fetal HPA axis, by which parturition is initiated in cows. The highest HDHEA-S at birth (T1) in calves indicates that the largest amounts of DHEA and its sulfates are produced during fetal development. Moreover, the findings of higher HC at three weeks after birth and of higher HDHEA-S until six weeks after birth, suggest that C and DHEA secretion continues also beyond birth, and that these steroids could be involved in the events occurring during the challenging first weeks of age in the calf.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Probo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - T Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
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Filacorda S, Comin A, Franchini M, Frangini L, Pesaro S, Pezzin EN, Prandi A. Cortisol in Hair: Do Habitat Fragmentation and Competition with Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) Measurably Affect the Long-Term Physiological Response in European Wildcat (Felis silvestris)? ANN ZOOL FENN 2021. [DOI: 10.5735/086.059.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Filacorda
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marcello Franchini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Frangini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Stefano Pesaro
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Eva Nilanthi Pezzin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
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Lunesu MF, Bomboi GC, Marzano A, Comin A, Prandi A, Sechi P, Nicolussi PS, Decandia M, Manca C, Atzori AS, Molle G, Cannas A. Metabolic and hormonal control of energy utilization and partitioning from early to mid lactation in Sarda ewes and Saanen goats. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:3617-3631. [PMID: 33455748 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In a recent study, we observed that starch-rich diets used in mid lactation induced lower milk production persistency and higher body fat accumulation in dairy ewes compared with dairy goats. Because these species differences could be linked to hormonal mechanisms that drive energy partitioning, in the same experiment, we explored the evolution of metabolic and hormonal status during lactation to test this hypothesis. Twenty mature Sarda dairy ewes and 20 mature Saanen goats [15-134 ± 11 d in milk (DIM), mean ± SD] were compared simultaneously. In early lactation, each species was allocated to one dietary treatment: high-starch diet [HS: 20.4% starch, on dry matter (DM) basis], whereas from 92 ± 11 DIM, each species was allocated to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: HS (20.0% starch, on DM basis) and low-starch (LS: 7.8% starch, on DM basis) diets. Blood samples were collected in the morning to analyze glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), growth hormone (GH), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS with repeated measurements (SAS Version 9.0). The HS and LS diets applied in mid lactation did not affect metabolic status of the animal within species; thus, only a comparison between species was carried out. From early to mid lactation, plasma glucose concentration was higher in ewes than in goats (54.57 vs. 48.35 ± 1.18 mg/dL), whereas plasma NEFA concentration was greater in goats than in ewes (0.31 vs. 0.25 ± 0.03 mmol/L). Goats had higher plasma GH concentration and lower plasma insulin content than ewes (4.78 vs. 1.31 ng/mL ± 0.47; 0.11 vs. 0.26 μg/L ± 0.02). Plasma IGF-I concentration did not vary between species. The comparison of metabolic and hormonal status of lactating Sarda dairy ewes and Saanen goats, carried out by studying simultaneously the 2 species in the same stage of lactation and experimental conditions, suggests that the higher insulin and glucose concentration observed in Sarda ewes explains why they partitioned more energy toward body reserves than to the mammary gland, especially in mid lactation. This can justify the negative effect of high-starch diets in mid-lactating Sarda ewes. Conversely, the highest GH and NEFA concentration observed in Saanen goats explain why they partitioned more energy of starch diets toward the mammary gland than to body reserves and justify the positive effect of high-starch diet in mid lactation. Together, these different responses contribute to explain why specialized dairy goats, such as the Saanen breed, have a higher milk production persistency than specialized dairy sheep breeds, such as the Sarda.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Lunesu
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - G C Bomboi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A Marzano
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A Comin
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari, ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari, ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - P Sechi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - P S Nicolussi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - M Decandia
- Agris Sardegna, Loc. Bonassai, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - C Manca
- Agris Sardegna, Loc. Bonassai, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A S Atzori
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - G Molle
- Agris Sardegna, Loc. Bonassai, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A Cannas
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Montillo M, Rota Nodari S, Peric T, Polloni A, Corazzin M, Bergamin C, Balestrieri A, Prandi A, Comin A. Steroids in pig hair and welfare evaluation systems: combined approaches to improve management in pig breeding? Vet Ital 2020; 56:177-184. [PMID: 33543913 DOI: 10.12834/vetit.1974.11885.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present pilot study was to determine the allostatic load by analysing the hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone‑sulphate (DHEA‑S) of commercial pigs belonging to different farms having good overall animal welfare according to the CREnBA (Centro di Referenza Nazionale per il Benessere Animale - Brescia, Italy) assessment protocol. The study was conducted on 86 pigs belonging to three farms with a grade higher than 8 on the CReNBA welfare evaluation system. Hair samples were taken by shaving on sows 1‑10 days after weaning (Farms 1 and 2) and at the age of 8‑10 months (Farm 3). The hormone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. From the box plots, it is evident that the hair cortisol concentrations of animals were different between farms. Conversely, the variability of the hair DHEA‑S concentration was similar between the F1 and F2 farms but much lower at F3. For all the variables considered (cortisol, DHEA‑S and cortisol/DHEA‑S ratio), F2 showed a higher hair concentration level than F1 (P < 0.05). The study's results indicate that the measurement of cortisol and DHEA‑S in pig hair shows a different allostatic load between them, although the official welfare evaluation method assessed the farms as having good overall animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Montillo
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Sara Rota Nodari
- 2 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", 25124 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Tanja Peric
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy 3 Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, SI-5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
| | - Alessia Polloni
- 2 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", 25124 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Mirco Corazzin
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Cristina Bergamin
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Anna Balestrieri
- 4 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy.
| | - Alberto Prandi
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Antonella Comin
- 1 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
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Peric T, Comin A, Corazzin M, Montillo M, Prandi A. Comparison of AlphaLISA and RIA assays for measurement of wool cortisol concentrations. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05230. [PMID: 33102853 PMCID: PMC7569336 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods have always represented a technique of choice for the determination of steroids in biological samples. The Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogenous Assay-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (AlphaLISA) is now emerging as the new-generation immunoassay technology that does not require washing/separation steps. The aim of this study was to adapt the Perkin-Elmer's AlphaLISA kit for wool cortisol and compare it with a RIA wool cortisol assay. Wool from lambs, 35 at birth (A0) and 54 at two months old (A2), was collected and each extract was evaluated for wool cortisol concentrations (HCC) both by RIA and AlphaLISA immunoassay. The two methods showed good precision, sensitivity and specificity for determining HCC. Both methods were able to detect significant differences between the high and the low HCC assessed in lambs at A0 and A2 (P < 0.01). The HCC assessed with RIA were significantly higher than those assessed with AlphaLISA (P < 0.01). Moreover, the correlation between HCC measured using the AlphaLISA and RIA methods was strong (r = 0.878). The regression analyses show a constant and not proportional error. This could be due to the diversity in the dosage steps and to the diversity of the molecules used in the two methods. Results support the validity of using AlphaLISA as an alternative method to RIA for the quantification of cortisol in sheep wool and considering the performances showed it has a great potential to be further applied as an excellent tool to evaluate HCC in samples derived from animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Peric
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, DI4A, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
- Laboratorij za vede o okolju in življenju, Univerza v Novi Gorici, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - A. Comin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, DI4A, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - M. Corazzin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, DI4A, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
- Corresponding author.
| | - M. Montillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, DI4A, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - A. Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, DI4A, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Esposito L, Salzano A, Russo M, de Nicola D, Prandi A, Gasparrini B, Campanile G, Neglia G. Corpus Luteum Color Doppler Ultrasound and Pregnancy Outcome in Buffalo during the Transitional Period. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10071181. [PMID: 32668625 PMCID: PMC7401660 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The advent of color Doppler ultrasonography promoted tremendous advances in research and clinical practice in animal reproduction, because it allowed noninvasive visualization of the vascularization in reproductive organs. In particular, the corpus luteum blood flow reflects luteal function better than luteal size in ruminants. Since buffaloes are a seasonal species, it is important to evaluate corpus luteum functionality also during the nonbreeding season, through blood flow examination and early pregnancy diagnosis. For this reason, we selected 29 Mediterranean buffaloes that had undergone synchronization and artificial insemination and were examined daily, from 5 to 10 days post-artificial insemination. Then, we retrospectively classified the buffaloes as pregnant or nonpregnant. Statistical analysis showed that pregnant animals had higher mean progesterone concentration and higher mean time average medium velocity values from Day 5 to Day 10 compared to nonpregnant buffaloes. Moreover, these two parameters could be used to predict the likelihood of pregnancy, starting on Day 6, although more reliable results could be obtained at Day 10 post-artificial insemination. In conclusion, a proper CL growth and development from Day 5 to Day 10 post-timed artificial insemination (TAI) is crucial for pregnancy maintenance during the transitional period. Abstract This study evaluated corpus luteum (CL) development in buffaloes out of breeding season and assessed an early pregnancy diagnosis. Mediterranean buffaloes (n = 29) were synchronized and artificially inseminated. CL B-mode/color Doppler ultrasonography examinations were performed daily from Days 5 to 10 post-synchronization, recording CL dimensions and blood flow parameters. Blood samples were collected on the same days for the progesterone (P4) assay. Data were grouped into pregnant or nonpregnant and retrospectively analyzed. The total pregnancy rate was 50.0% (13/26) on Day 45. A significant difference between CL average area in pregnant and nonpregnant buffaloes was recorded only on Day 10. Pregnant buffaloes showed a significantly higher mean P4 concentration and higher mean time average medium velocity (TAMV) values from Day 5 to Day 10 compared to nonpregnant buffaloes. Linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between P4 levels and TAMV. Multiple logistic regression highlighted a significant influence of TAMV on pregnancy outcome, particularly on Day 8. This is probably due to the strong relationship between TAMV and P4 production. Both TAMV and P4 could be used to predict pregnancy starting on Day 6, although a more reliable result was obtained at Day 10. Thus, the period between Days 5 and 10 is critical for CL development during the transitional period in buffalo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Esposito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Angela Salzano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Marco Russo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-2536016
| | - Donato de Nicola
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Bianca Gasparrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Giuseppe Campanile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Gianluca Neglia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.E.); (A.S.); (D.d.N.); (B.G.); (G.C.); (G.N.)
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Veronesi MC, Fusi J, Comin A, Ferrario PG, Bolis B, Prandi A. Effect of breed body-size on leptin amniotic fluid concentrations at term pregnancy in dogs. Theriogenology 2020; 149:1-5. [PMID: 32224377 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Because of the need to improve the knowledge about canine perinatology, and given the major role of fetal fluids in sustaining the course of pregnancy and fetal development, an in-depth analysis to better understand the role of some hormones in these compartments is essential. Among all, leptin is recognized to play a key role not only on the energetic homeostasis, but also at multiple levels, influencing the control of reproduction, food assumption and metabolism. Even if in humans and other species it is reported the presence of leptin receptors during fetal development, very little is known about the canine species, in which the role of leptin still needs to be fully understood. The present study aimed to assess the amniotic fluid leptin (AFL) concentrations at term pregnancy in healthy dogs, and to evaluate the possible influence played by breed body-size (after assessment of correlation with maternal bodyweight and placental weight), or other maternal (age, parity, and the so-called "litter effect") and neonatal (gender, birth weight, litter size) parameters on AFL concentrations, analyzed by ELISA test. The study was performed on 90 healthy, viable and normal weighted puppies, 39 small-sized (adult body weight < 10 kg) and 51 large-sized (adult body weight > 25 kg), born by 29 purebred, healthy bitches, submitted to elective Caesarean section because of breed-related or individual high risk for dystocia. The results showed that the mean AFL concentration in the small-sized puppies was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in comparison to large-sized puppies (867.48 vs 698.42 pg/ml), while all the other studied parameters did not show to influence AFL concentrations. In conclusions, the present study showed significant higher at term AFL concentrations in small-sized as compared to large-sized breeds, suggesting an influence of breed body-size on fetal metabolism, as previously reported for NEFA and IGF-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, Italy.
| | - J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, Italy
| | - A Comin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, Udine, Italy
| | - P G Ferrario
- Max Rubner-Institut, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Haid-und-Neu-Str. 9, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - B Bolis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, Udine, Italy
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Fusi J, Comin A, Faustini M, Prandi A, Veronesi MC. Perinatal concentrations of 17β-estradiol and testosterone in the toe claws of female and male dogs from birth until 60 days of age. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 214:106313. [PMID: 32087908 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in toe claws of puppies collected at birth, at 30 and at 60 days of age, evaluating changes relating to age and effect of puppy sex, Apgar score, bodyweight at birth, "litter effect", litter size, and maternal age. Puppies (n = 89), 46 males and 43 females, with normal weight and without malformations, were assigned for the study. Within 12 h of birth tips of toe claws were clipped, and the re-growth tissue of the claws was collected at 30 and 60 days of age. Steroid quantifications occurred using a radioimmunoassay. The results indicated there were lesser concentrations (P < 0.001) of both hormones at 30 and 60 days of age than at birth and that concentrations were similar at 30-60 days of age. There were greater (P < 0.001) T concentrations in males than females, with there being an interaction between sex and sampling time (P < 0.01). The Apgar score was positively (P < 0.001) related to T concentrations in toe claws at birth. The bodyweight was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with T concentrations, with an interaction among puppy sex, bodyweight and sampling time (P < 0.05). Results of the present study confirmed the usefulness of toe claws as a matrix for study of hormonal changes in perinatology of dogs. Results of the study also indicate there are greater E2 and T concentrations at birth compared with 30 and 60 days of age that could be the result of these prenatal steroids affecting fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 10, Milan, Italy.
| | - A Comin
- Department of AgriFood, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, Udine, Italy
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 10, Milan, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of AgriFood, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, Udine, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 10, Milan, Italy
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Franchini M, Prandi A, Filacorda S, Pezzin EN, Fanin Y, Comin A. Cortisol in hair: a comparison between wild and feral cats in the north-eastern Alps. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Peric T, Comin A, Corazzin M, Montillo M, Canavese F, Stebel M, Prandi A. Hair cortisol concentrations in New Zealand white rabbits subjected to surgery. Anim Welf 2018. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.27.1.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Peric T, Corazzin M, Romanzin A, Bovolenta S, Prandi A, Montillo M, Comin A. Cortisol and DHEA concentrations in the hair of dairy cows managed indoor or on pasture. Livest Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Trevisan C, Montillo M, Prandi A, Mkupasi EM, Ngowi HA, Johansen MV. Hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations in naturally Taenia solium infected pigs in Tanzania. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 246:23-28. [PMID: 28322765 PMCID: PMC5396532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to measure hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations in naturally Taenia solium infected and non-infected control pigs and assess the effect of an environmental change on the aforementioned parameters. Three hair patches were obtained from 13 T. solium infected and 15 non-infected controls sows, respectively corresponding to 3 time points (prior to, at and approximately two weeks after arrival at the research facility). Cortisol and DHEA were extracted using methanol and analysed by radio immune assay. Mean hair cortisol concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.001) in T. solium infected (4.7±3.0pg/mg) compared to control pigs (9.0±3.7pg/mg) prior to arrival at the research facility, however no significant difference was observed between the two groups at arrival and after approximately two weeks. Similar patterns were also observed for DHEA concentrations (infected pigs 253.9±82.3pg/mg, control pigs 387.7±116.4pg/mg) (p<0.001). Results showed that lean animals had significantly higher cortisol concentrations in both groups, infected and controls pigs, while DHEA was not significantly different between lean and normal animals. Results of this study have shown that an environmental change could have an effect on pigs' hormonal levels suggesting an undergoing adaptation process. After the pigs were kept under the same conditions, fed and watered ad libitum, no significant differences were observed between the groups, but a drop in DHEA concentrations was observed in all the pigs. Weight however had an effect on cortisol levels as lean animals had significantly higher cortisol concentrations in both groups, compared to normal pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Trevisan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Marta Montillo
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Ernatus M Mkupasi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Helena A Ngowi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Maria V Johansen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Comin A, Peric T, Montillo M, Cappa A, Marchi V, Veronesi MC, Prandi A. Luteal activity and effect of dietary energy restriction on follicular development in lactating cows. Reprod Domest Anim 2017; 52:632-639. [PMID: 28378464 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this research has been to evaluate the presence of anomalies in the ovarian cycle activity during postpartum and to verify whether 72-hr dietary fasting during the dominance phase, the phase before ovulation, might modify the ovarian follicle population. The presence of anomalies in ovarian cycle activity has been evaluated in 30 Italian Friesian cows starting from 20 days postpartum until 211 days of lactation. Long oestrus and brief dioestrus or scarce luteal activity have been the main anomalies found through measuring progesterone concentrations in the whey. Until 100 days of lactation, the BCS values of the problematic animals have been significantly lower than those in animals with normal ovarian activity. After 100 days of lactation, the ovarian anomalies continued to appear despite the fact that all the animals have reached comparable BCS values. Starting from the results of this trial, the effect of 72-hr dietary fasting on dominant follicles has been studied in six cows. Ultrasonography revealed that the diameter of the follicles at 71 days postpartum has been significantly lower than at 181 days. A 72-hr dietary restriction at 101 and 211 days postpartum did not affect the size of the dominant follicle. However, at 101 days postpartum, half of the animals presented follicular cysts. The effect of fasting differed if the animal has been in early postpartum or 211 days of lactation. Further researches are necessary to understand how different metabolic conditions can modify the follicular population but on the other hand the study shows the utility for farmers and field veterinarians of monitoring the resumption of the ovarian cycle postpartum through the whey progesterone concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Comin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - T Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.,Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - M Montillo
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - A Cappa
- Evoluzione S.r.l., Sossano (VI), Italy
| | | | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Stradaioli G, Peric T, Montillo M, Comin A, Corazzin M, Veronesi MC, Prandi A. Hair cortisol and testosterone concentrations and semen production of Bos taurus bulls. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2017.1303339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Stradaioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Center za biomedicinske znanosti in inženiring, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Marta Montillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Mirco Corazzin
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Veronesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie per la salute, la produzione animale e la sicurezza alimentare, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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25
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Bolis B, Prandi A, Rota A, Faustini M, Veronesi MC. Cortisol fetal fluid concentrations in term pregnancy of small-sized purebred dogs and its preliminary relation to first 24 hours survival of newborns. Theriogenology 2016; 88:264-269. [PMID: 28234232 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Along the perinatal period, in mammals, cortisol (C) plays a pivotal role in the final intrauterine fetal maturation and in the early neonatal adaptation. Because of the scarce knowledge about canine perinatology, the present study was aimed to assess the C concentrations in amniotic and allantoic fluids collected, without invasiveness, from small-sized, purebred newborn puppies born by elective cesarean section, at term of pregnancy. Possible correlations between fetal fluid C concentrations and maternal parity, litter size, birth weight, Apgar score, were evaluated. In addition, the possible effect of fetal fluid C concentrations on newborn survival at 24 hours of age, and the effect of the litter or the newborn gender on fetal fluid C concentrations were also assessed. The results, obtained from 50 born alive, normal-weight puppies, without gross physical malformation, showed that C concentration was higher in allantoic than in amniotic fluid (P < 0.01), even if a strong positive correlation between the two fluids C concentration was found (P < 0.0001; R = 0.83). Neither amniotic nor allantoic C concentrations were correlated to maternal parity, litter size, birth weight, and Apgar score. Interestingly, higher amniotic (P < 0.05), but not allantoic, C concentrations were found in puppies not surviving at 24 hours after birth. Therefore, it could be suggested that this parameter may be useful for the recognition, at birth, of puppies needing special surveillance during the first day of age. A significant (P < 0.001) effect of the litter in both amniotic and allantoic C concentrations was found. In conclusion, the present results showed that in small-sized purebred puppies, born at term by elective cesarean section, the exact fetal, maternal, or placental source contributing to fetal fluid C concentrations remains to be clarified. From a clinical perspective, however, the evaluation of amniotic C concentration at birth seems useful for the detection of puppies that need special surveillance during the first 24 hours of age, and should be coupled to the early newborn evaluation by Apgar score. However, the small total number of newborns, and especially of the dead puppies enrolled in the present study, suggests that further, more-focused investigations on a large number of subjects are needed before the method could be considered for application in the clinical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Bolis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; ECAR Resident Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - A Rota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Caslini C, Comin A, Peric T, Prandi A, Pedrotti L, Mattiello S. Use of hair cortisol analysis for comparing population status in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) living in areas with different characteristics. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1049-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Peric T, Comin A, Corazzin M, Montillo M, Canavese F, Stebel M, Prandi A. Relocation and Hair Cortisol Concentrations in New Zealand White Rabbits. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2016; 20:1-8. [PMID: 27191037 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2016.1183489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
To investigate how long relocation modified hair cortisol concentrations in New Zealand white rabbits, 19 rabbits were subjected to a change in their breeding facility at the beginning of the trial and then were kept under stable environmental conditions. Hair samples were collected at the time of arrival to the nonhuman animal facility and at 40-day intervals from the same skin area for up to 440 days after the animals' arrival to the facility. A period effect on the hair cortisol concentration was found (p < .01). The transfer of the rabbits to the new facility might have induced an increase in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (p < .01). A second increase in hair cortisol concentration (p < .01) occurred at 320 days, after a change of personnel at the facility that occurred at 280 days, which was the only environmental change. The relocation of rabbits to the facility resulted in a stress response leading to elevated cortisol levels. The effect of relocation on mean cortisol concentrations was exhausted within 120 days when all environmental factors were kept stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Peric
- a Department of Food Science , University of Udine , Udine , Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- a Department of Food Science , University of Udine , Udine , Italy
| | - Mirco Corazzin
- b Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences , University of Udine , Udine , Italy
| | - Marta Montillo
- a Department of Food Science , University of Udine , Udine , Italy
| | - Federico Canavese
- c Hôpital Estaing, Centre Hospitalier University of Clermont Ferrand , Clermont Ferrand , France
| | - Marco Stebel
- d Department of Life Sciences , University of Trieste , Trieste , Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- a Department of Food Science , University of Udine , Udine , Italy
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Di Palo R, Campanile G, Prandi A, Baruselli P, Vecchio D, Carvalho N, Zicarelli L. Plasma leptin levels in Murrah buffalo heifers fed diet with two different energy levels. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2016. [DOI: 10.4081/ijas.2005.2s.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Veronesi MC, Comin A, Meloni T, Faustini M, Rota A, Prandi A. Coat and claws as new matrices for noninvasive long-term cortisol assessment in dogs from birth up to 30 days of age. Theriogenology 2015; 84:791-6. [PMID: 26081135 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The last stage of fetal development and the neonatal period represent the most critical phases for the mammals' offspring. In the dog, the knowledge about the final intrauterine fetal development and biology, as well as about the neonatal physiology, remains scarce. Hormonal changes occurring in the last intrauterine fetal phase and during the early neonatal age are still not completely clear, probably because of the invasiveness related to the collection of the more common biological matrix, represented by circulating blood. Toward term of pregnancy, during parturition, and after birth, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a key system regulating several physiological processes, and its activity was previously investigated by blood analysis, considered an invasive procedure providing a single-point measurement. In respect to animal welfare, and for a more correct long-term retrospective investigation, noninvasive hormonal studies were performed firstly on the hair of humans and coat of animals and, more recently, in the nails of human beings. This study was aimed to assess cortisol (COR) in coat and claws of newborn puppies and to evaluate the possible influence of the newborn gender, breed body size, and age on coat and claws COR concentrations. The results obtained from 165 newborn puppies evidenced that coat and claws COR levels were highly correlated each other (P < 0.0001), although the COR accumulation in the two matrices was different in relation to the class of age. Moreover, the puppies age influenced both coat and claws COR concentrations (P < 0.05), with premature puppies showing higher values when compared to term born-dead puppies or puppies dead between 1 and 30 days of age. The present study reported that COR is quantifiable in coat and claws of newborn dogs. Moreover, both matrices appear as useful tools for new, noninvasive, long-term perinatal and neonatal researches also in canine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Veronesi
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Comin
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - T Meloni
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Rota
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Associato Dr. Pellegrini-Dr. Rota, Bergamo, Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Neglia G, Restucci B, Russo M, Vecchio D, Gasparrini B, Prandi A, Di Palo R, D'Occhio MJ, Campanile G. Early development and function of the corpus luteum and relationship to pregnancy in the buffalo. Theriogenology 2015; 83:959-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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31
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Battini M, Peric T, Ajuda I, Vieira A, Grosso L, Barbieri S, Stilwell G, Prandi A, Comin A, Tubaro F, Mattiello S. Hair coat condition: A valid and reliable indicator for on-farm welfare assessment in adult dairy goats. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Comin A, Peric T, Magrin L, Corazzin M, Cornacchia G, Prandi A. Study of progesterone and cortisol concentrations in the Italian Friesian claw. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:5491-6. [PMID: 24952784 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-7943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The present research was conducted to study progesterone and cortisol concentrations in the claw of cattle and to verify whether the cattle claw could be considered an efficient matrix to provide retrospective information regarding progesterone and cortisol concentrations related to pregnancy and peripartum periods. These 2 steroids are involved in hoof growth. The study was performed on 32 calves and 24 pregnant milking cows of the Holstein breed, which were clinically healthy and lacking any claw disorders. Samples of at least 0.5cm in thickness were taken from the sole. Progesterone and cortisol concentrations were determined by RIA. The cortisol concentration in the horny shoe of calves from 0 to 30 d of age was significantly higher than the concentration at 31 to 60 and 61 to 120 d of age. Conversely, the progesterone concentration showed no statistically significant difference in relation to age. The horn progesterone concentrations recorded in the milking dairy cows at 7 mo of pregnancy showed high variability in the horizontal sections of the sole (the individual coefficient of variation ranged between 0.09 and 1.11). In 6 cows, genuine extreme values (genuine outliers) of the progesterone level were found. Moreover, significant differences existed among the progesterone concentrations of the sole's transverse sections. We detected a significant positive correlation between the weight of the horn samples after freeze-drying and their weight after hydration. The cortisol and progesterone levels in soaked horn samples were found to be significantly lower than in the same dry samples. These results show that cortisol and progesterone can be measured in the cattle claw horn. The claws of mature dairy cows could not be used as a matrix to provide a retrospective measure of cumulative hormone secretion, whereas the analysis of the calves' claw horns showed retrospective hormonal information similar to hair samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Comin
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - T Peric
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - L Magrin
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - M Corazzin
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - G Cornacchia
- Evoluzione S.r.l., via S. Sepolcro 29, 36040 Sossano (VI), Italy
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Montillo M, Comin A, Corazzin M, Peric T, Faustini M, Veronesi MC, Valentini S, Bustaffa M, Prandi A. The Effect of Temperature, Rainfall, and Light Conditions on Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Newborn Foals. J Equine Vet Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Peric T, Comin A, Corazzin M, Montillo M, Cappa A, Campanile G, Prandi A. Short communication: Hair cortisol concentrations in Holstein-Friesian and crossbreed F1 heifers. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:3023-7. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-6151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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35
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Renaville B, Prandi A, Fan B, Sepulcri A, Rothschild M, Piasentier E. Candidate gene marker associations with fatty acid profiles in heavy pigs. Meat Sci 2013; 93:495-500. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Campanile G, Vecchio D, Neglia G, Bella A, Prandi A, Senatore EM, Gasparrini B, Presicce GA. Effect of season, late embryonic mortality and progesterone production on pregnancy rates in pluriparous buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) after artificial insemination with sexed semen. Theriogenology 2013; 79:653-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Comin A, Peric T, Corazzin M, Veronesi M, Meloni T, Zufferli V, Cornacchia G, Prandi A. Hair cortisol as a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in Friesian dairy cows clinically or physiologically compromised. Livest Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2012.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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38
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Panzani S, Castagnetti C, Prandi A, Faustini M, Zamboni A, Veronesi MC. Insulin-like growth factor I: could it be a marker of prematurity in the foal? Theriogenology 2012; 79:495-501. [PMID: 23218397 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Revised: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I represents one of the most important growth regulators, playing a central role in fetal and neonatal growth. Plasma IGF-I levels increase rapidly after birth, and they are influenced by numerous factors, including sex, age, nutritional state, and premature birth. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the IGF-I plasma profile in healthy newborn foals during the first 2 weeks of life; (2) to assess the possible influence of sex and birth weight on this hormone; (3) to analyze the percentage increment of IGF-I values in healthy foals; (4) to evaluate the influence of prematurity on IGF-I profile; (5) to verify the role of IGF-I as a diagnostic marker of prematurity; and (6) to analyze the percentage increment of IGF-I in premature foals. Thirty-four healthy term foals were enrolled as the control group and from each foal plasma was collected within 6 hours from birth, at 12 hours, daily from Day 1 to Day 7, and at Days 10 and 14 after birth. Eleven foals aged younger than 1 week and diagnosed as premature and hospitalized at a Equine Perinatology Unit were also enrolled; from each foal plasma was collected daily from the day of admission to discharge or death. Insulin-like growth factor I was analyzed by RIA. In the control group, an increasing trend of IGF-I concentrations was found, with higher values from Day 4 to 10 compared with data obtained at less than 6 hours of life, and from Day 5 to 10 compared with 12 and 24 hours and 3 days. No differences were found in healthy foals analyzed in relation to birth weight and sex. In premature foals an increasing trend was observed but no statistical differences were found among sampling times, and no differences were found between healthy and premature foals. The IGF value in premature foals at admission was always higher compared with the lowest recorded level in healthy age-matched foals, thus this parameter does not seem to have a diagnostic role for prematurity in foals. Finally, the evaluation of the percentage increment of IGF-I concentrations showed a significant increase in full-term foals on Day 5, 6, 7, and 10 compared with 12 and 24 hours, and no differences were observed in premature foals. In conclusion, prematurity in newborn foals seems to affect only partially IGF-I plasma concentrations and it does not seem to be a reliable marker for this pathological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Panzani
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Comin A, Zufferli V, Peric T, Canavese F, Barbetta D, Prandi A. Hair cortisol levels determined at different body sites in the New Zealand White rabbit. World rabbit sci 2012. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2012.1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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40
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Vecchio D, Neglia G, Gasparrini B, Russo M, Pacelli C, Prandi A, D'Occhio M, Campanile G. Corpus luteum development and function and relationship to pregnancy during the breeding season in the Mediterranean buffalo. Theriogenology 2012; 77:1811-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Revised: 12/09/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Comin A, Veronesi MC, Montillo M, Faustini M, Valentini S, Cairoli F, Prandi A. Hair cortisol level as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in horse foals. Vet J 2012; 194:131-2. [PMID: 22633175 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated cortisol concentrations in fetal plasma are associated with foal maturity, viability and adaptation to independent life. However, non-invasive measurement of cortisol in hair samples has not yet been validated in horses. The current study developed a radioimmunoassay to analyse cortisol in horse hair and was used to measure cortisol hair concentration at birth and at 30 and 60 days of age as a retrospective study of HPA axis activity. Cortisol was detectable in the hair of foals from birth until 2 months, but decreased with time and varied greatly between individuals. Analysis of hair cortisol could be useful for non-invasive retrospective studies of HPA axis activity in perinatal horse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Comin
- Department of Food Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Esposito P, Comin A, Peric T, Montillo M, Mascolo M, Tubaro G, Prandi A. Experimental indicators of ergonomic wellness and quality of life: salivary and hair cortisol. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 41 Suppl 1:5442-5. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-2012-0847-5442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P.L. Esposito
- SPRINT, University of Udine, via Petracco 8, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - A. Comin
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - T. Peric
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - M. Montillo
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - M. Mascolo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of San Giorgio, via Gemelli 10, 33170 Pordenone, Italy
| | - G. Tubaro
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - A. Prandi
- Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Sondrio 2, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Comin A, Prandi A, Peric T, Corazzin M, Dovier S, Bovolenta S. Hair cortisol levels in dairy cows from winter housing to summer highland grazing. Livest Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2010.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Campanile G, Baruselli PS, Vecchio D, Prandi A, Neglia G, Carvalho NAT, Sales JNS, Gasparrini B, D'Occhio MJ. Growth, metabolic status and ovarian function in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers fed a low energy or high energy diet. Anim Reprod Sci 2010; 122:74-81. [PMID: 20729015 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2010] [Revised: 07/15/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim was to establish the capacity of buffalo heifers to adapt their metabolic requirements to a low energy diet. Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers undergoing regular estrous cycles were randomly assigned by age, live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) to a high energy group (HE, 5.8 milk forage units (MFU)/day, n=6) or low energy group (LE, 3.6 MFU/day, n=6). Circulating concentrations of metabolic substrates, metabolic hormones and reproductive hormones were determined weekly for 19 weeks. Ovarian follicular characteristics and oocyte parameters were also ascertained weekly. Heifers fed the LE diet had a better dry matter conversion than heifers fed the HE diet and the calculated daily energy provision was negative for heifers fed the LE diet (-0.248 MFU) and positive for heifers fed the HE diet (5.4 MFU). Heifers fed the HE diet had an increase in 50 kg LW over the duration of the study whereas LW remained constant for heifers fed the LE diet. The BCS of heifers fed the HE diet (4.2) was greater (P<0.05) than the BCS for heifers fed the LE diet (3.4). Heifers fed the HE diet had greater (P<0.05) circulating concentrations of metabolic substrates (glucose, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol) and metabolic hormones (insulin, glucagon, leptin and T3) compared with heifers fed the LE diet. There were no significant differences in circulating reproductive hormones between the two groups of heifers. Ovarian follicular characteristics were similar for the two groups of heifers while heifers fed the LE diet tended to have oocytes of reduced quality compared with heifers fed the HE diet. The most notable finding was that heifers fed the LE diet had a negative calculated daily energy provision but were able to maintain LW and reproductive activity. It was concluded that buffalo heifers may potentially have the capacity to undergo metabolic adjustment and reduce their energy requirements when dietary energy is limiting. This adaptive capacity would explain why buffaloes remain productive in environments that are limiting to other ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campanile
- DISCIZIA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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Renaville B, Bacciu N, Comin A, Motta M, Poli I, Vanini G, Prandi A. Plasma and Follicular Fluid Fatty Acid Profiles in Dairy Cows. Reprod Domest Anim 2010; 45:118-21. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01264.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Russo M, Vecchio D, Neglia G, Pacelli C, Prandi A, Gasparrini B, Zicarelli L, D’Occhio MJ, Campanile G. Corpus luteum Function and Pregnancy Outcome in Buffaloes during the Transition Period from Breeding to Non-Breeding Season. Reprod Domest Anim 2009; 45:988-91. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01472.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Vecchio D, Neglia G, Di Palo R, Prandi A, Gasparrini B, Balestrieri A, D'Occhio MJ, Zicarelli L, Campanile G. Is a delayed treatment with GnRH, HCG or progesterone beneficial for reducing embryonic mortality in buffaloes? Reprod Domest Anim 2008; 45:614-8. [PMID: 19090823 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01312.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to verify the efficacy of delayed hormonal treatments performed on day 25 post-insemination on pregnancy rate at 45 and 70 days in buffalo. The trial was performed on 385 buffaloes synchronized by the Ovsynch/TAI protocol and submitted to artificial insemination (AI). Twenty-five days after AI, pregnant animals were assigned to four treatments: (1) GnRH agonist (n = 52), 12 microg of buserelin acetate; (2) hCG (n = 51), 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin; (3) Progesterone (n = 47), 341 mg of P4 intramuscular (im) every 4 days for three times; (4) Control (n = 54), treatment with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). Milk samples were collected on days 10, 20 and 25 after AI in all buffaloes to determine progesterone concentration in whey by radioimmunoassay method. Statistical analysis was performed by anova. Pregnancy rate on day 25 after AI was 52.9%, but declined to 41.8% by day 45, indicating an embryonic mortality (EM) of 21%. If only control group is considered, the incidence of EM was 38.9%. Pregnant buffaloes had higher (p < 0.01) progesterone concentrations on day 20 and 25 after AI than both non-pregnant buffaloes and buffaloes that showed EM. The treatments on day 25 increased (p < 0.01) pregnancy rate, although in buffaloes with a low whey progesterone concentration on day 20 and 25 after AI (n = 22); all treatments were ineffective to reduce EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Vecchio
- DISCIZIA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
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Campanile G, Vecchio D, Di Palo R, Neglia G, Gasparrini B, Prandi A, Zicarelli L, D'Occhio MJ. Delayed treatment with GnRH agonist, hCG and progesterone and reduced embryonic mortality in buffaloes. Theriogenology 2008; 70:1544-9. [PMID: 18706685 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2007] [Revised: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 07/01/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined the effect of delayed treatment with tropic hormones and progesterone (P4) on embryonic mortality in buffaloes. Buffaloes with a conceptus on Day 25 after AI were assigned to the following treatments: Control (n=41), i.m. physiological saline; GnRH agonist (n=36), i.m. 12 microg buserelin acetate; hCG (n=33), i.m. 1500 IU hCG; P4 (n=38), i.m. 341 mg P4 every 4 days on three occasions. Control buffaloes had an embryonic mortality of 41.4% (17/41) between Days 25 and 45, and this was reduced (P<0.01) by treatment with GnRH agonist (11.1%, 4/36), hCG (9.0%, 3/33) and P4 (13.1%, 5/38). On Day 45, buffaloes treated with hCG and which ovulated had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of P(4) in whey (453 +/- 41 pg/ml) than buffaloes in the same treatment that did not ovulate (297 +/- 32 pg/ml). A similar but non-significant trend was observed for buffaloes treated with GnRH agonist. It was concluded from the findings that the treatment of buffaloes on Day 25 after AI with tropic hormones or P4 is beneficial to processes associated with embryonic implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campanile
- DISCIZIA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federico II University, V.F. Delpino 1, Naples 80137, Italy.
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Campanile G, Vecchio D, Neglia G, Di Palo R, Prandi A, D'Occhio M. Progesterone and pregnancy status of buffaloes treated with a GNRH agonist. Livest Sci 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Konigsson K, Savoini G, Govoni N, Invernizzi G, Prandi A, Kindahl H, Veronesi MC. Energy balance, leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma concentrations and resumption of post partum ovarian activity in Swedish Red and White breed cows. Acta Vet Scand 2008; 50:3. [PMID: 18184427 PMCID: PMC2245956 DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-50-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2007] [Accepted: 01/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the purpose to provide further information in respect of the relationship between metabolism and post partum (PP) ovarian activity resumption in dairy cows, the aim of the present study was to characterize the energy balance (EB) and leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma levels in Swedish Red and White (SRW) cows with and without ovarian activity re-initiation within 7 weeks PP. The study was conducted on 12 primiparous SRW cows fed the same diet as total mixed ration for ad libitum intake. The EB was calculated weekly from parturition until seven weeks PP. Blood samples were collected weekly from one week before until 7 weeks after calving for leptin, NEFA and IGF-I analysis. For progesterone (P4) analysis, blood samples were collected two times per week from parturition until the end of the study. P4 profile was used in addition to the clinical examination to detect cows with and without ovarian activity resumption. The clinical and ultrasonographic examination, coupled with P4 profile analysis showed the resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks after calving in 8 (group A) and no ovarian resumption in 4 cows (group B). No significant differences were detected in the whole period of observation in the amount of milk production between the two groups, while the mean milk protein content was significantly lower in group B at the third week PP. The calculated EB was negative in both groups in the first three weeks after calving, but more marked in group B. NEFA and Leptin plasma levels did not show significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that, when low milk producing primiparous cows are concerned, no significant differences in BW loss, milk yield, EB and leptin and NEFA plasma levels between the cows with and without resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks post partum were seen. However, significantly higher IGF-I levels in the first two weeks after calving were found in cows with post partum ovarian activity resumption, highlighting the important role of IGF-I as sensitive signal between metabolism and reproduction.
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