title: Effects of insulin administration at weaning on hormonal patterns and reproductive performance in primiparous sows.
abstract: Twelve primiparous sows were grouped into six pairs. One sow from each pair (T) received subcutaneous injections of porcine insulin as follows: pairs 1 and 2, 0.5 IU/kg at 07.00 h; pairs 3 to 6, 0.5 IU/kg at 07.00 and 15.00 h. Insulin administration was started one day before weaning and continued until the last day of post-weaning oestrus. Control sows (C) received physiological saline solution as a sham treatment. Blood samples were collected every 3 h from 09.00 to 21.00 h and, additionally, at 07.00 h during the period of insulin treatment. Additional blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 6 h for 2 days before and for 3 days after weaning, and for 12 h on the day of weaning (D35 of lactation). Exogenous treatment with insulin increased plasma levels of insulin (53 v 36 mU/l, P < 0.001) and decreased plasma levels of glucose (4.6 v 5.5 mmol/l, P < 0.001) in T-sows as compared to C-sows. During the treatment period, the average levels of cortisol (31 v 35 nmol/l, P < 0.001) and non-esterified fatty acids (0.13 v 0.16 mmol/l, P < 0.01) were lower in T-than in C-sows. No differences in glucagon or urea levels were observed between the two groups. Plasma levels of LH were higher in T- than in C-sows both before and during the treatment period. However, no differences in number of LH pulses/6h were found between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rojkittikhun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Einarsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zilinskas
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Edqvist
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uvnäs-Moberg
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lundeheim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin