Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns as a method of pregnancy detection in cattle.
The objective of this study was to evaluate serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns in open and pregnant Holstein and Hereford cows as a method of detecting pregnancy. Serum samples were collected from 26 Holstein and 13 Hereford cows and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns were examined by electrophoresis and quantitated by scanning densitometry. Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme(4) and LDH(5) were found in higher concentration (P </= .05) in pregnant versus open Holstein cows. Twelve of 14 and 10 of 12 Holstein cows were correctly diagnosed as being pregnant and open, respectively by examining differences in serum concentrations of isoenzymes LDH(4) and LDH(5). Pregnancy was detected as early as 36 days of gestation. No differences were found in serum LDH isoenzyme patterns between pregnant and open Hereford cows. However, differences (P </= .05) in concentration of all five LDH isoenzymes were observed between Holstein and Hereford cows, which may lend insight into the metabolic significance of the elevation of LDH(4) and LDH(5) in pregnancy. The results suggest that elevation of serum LDH(4) and LDH(5) may be used as a means of pregnancy detection in the Holstein but not the Hereford cow.
Wright
R W
RW
Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA.
Grammer
J
J