title: Prevention of fatty liver in transition dairy cows by subcutaneous injections of glucagon.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to test the extent to which injecting glucagon subcutaneously for 14 d beginning at d 2 postpartum would prevent fatty liver development in transition dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows were fed 6 kg of cracked corn in addition to their standard diet during the last 30 d of a dry period to induce postpartum development of fatty liver. Glucagon at either 7.5 or 15 mg/d or saline (control) was injected subcutaneously 3 times daily for 14 d beginning at d 2 postpartum. Glucagon at 15 mg/ d prevented liver triacylglycerol accumulation in postpartum dairy cows. Glucagon at 7.5 mg/d showed potential for fatty liver prevention. Glucagon increased concentration of plasma glucose and insulin and decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. No effects of glucagon were detected on plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Glucagon affected neither feed intake nor milk production. Moreover, milk composition was not altered by glucagon. Milk urea N concentrations decreased, and plasma urea N concentrations tended to decrease during glucagon administration, indicating that glucagon may improve protein use. Liver glycogen concentrations were not affected by glucagon. No significant differences in body condition scores were detected among treatments throughout the study. These results indicate that subcutaneous glucagon injections can prevent fatty liver in transition dairy cows without causing major production and metabolite disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-3150, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nafikov
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Ametaj
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bobe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Beitz
mesh_terms: D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D004435:Eating; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D049590:Postpartum Period; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000090:Acetoacetates; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; C016635:acetoacetic acid; D014508:Urea; D005934:Glucagon; D002784:Cholesterol; D009584:Nitrogen