title: A correlated biochemical and stereological study of periparturient fatty liver in the dairy cow.
abstract: Liver lipids were estimated in cows eight weeks before and one and eight weeks after calving by two independent procedures. Liver lipid was estimated stereologically in Araldite-embedded sections and using thin layer chromatography and densitometry of the separated lipids. The results obtained by these methods were compared. There were significant increases in the hepatic content (g/kg liver wet weight) of total lipid, triacylglycerol and non-esterified fatty acids one week after calving, with no significant changes in the phospholipid and cholesterol content around calving. The liver lipid composition (g lipid/100 g total lipid) changed one week after calving, with an increased proprotion of triacylglycerol and a decreased proportion of phospholipids and cholesterol. There was no change in the proportion of non-esterified fatty acids. The volume fracton of the hepatocyte occupied by fat droplets increased one week after calving. There was a high correlation between the triacylglycerol content of the liver determined biochemically and the volume fraction of fat droplets lying within the hepatocyte cytoplasm determined stereologically.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*