title: Plasma serotonin levels in Italian Fresian dairy cows.
abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the metabolism of plasma serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), an important neurotransmitter, in Fresian dairy cows, a breed of zootechnical interest, using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The subjects under study were at the stage of early lactation (n = 10; mean body weight 375 +/- 50 kg; average age of 3 years; body condition score 2.5), bred in a farm at an altitude of 150 m a.s.l. To evaluate animal welfare on this farm, which is closely connected to an animal's physiological status, tryptophan and cortisol levels (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), together with levels of certain blood components [total proteins (TP), albumin, creatinine, glucose (Glu), triglycerides, phospholipids, total cholesterol, and aspartate transaminase, measured by spectrophotometry] were analyzed. The results obtained are discussed in comparison with reference values, taking into account the environmental living conditions. Measured plasma serotonin concentrations, which were lower than values reported for Brown Swiss dairy cows of a comparable age and diet, appeared to be affected by breed, temperature, blood sampling season, and altitude. Additional differences between the levels of plasma tryptophan, the amino acid precursor of serotonin, of the two breeds were comparable. Negative correlations between plasma tryptophan and plasma cortisol levels (r = -0.83, P < 0.005), plasma serotonin and plasma TP levels (r = -0.72, P < 0.05), or Glu levels (r = -0.77, P < 0.05) highlight the existence of a stress condition, which is connected to an energetic deficit related to lactation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Animal Production, University of Messina Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy. giubruschetta@inwind.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruschetta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanzarello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacoppo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferlazzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan
references.citation: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005 Mar;98(3):1092-100
references.pmid: 15703167
references.citation: Eur J Pharmacol. 2003 Jan 10;459(1):1-7
references.pmid: 12505528
references.citation: Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2008 Jan;34(1):14-24
references.pmid: 17074461
references.citation: Life Sci. 1993;52(3):313-21
references.pmid: 8423711
references.citation: Clin Chem. 2000 Mar;46(3):422-3
references.pmid: 10702533
references.citation: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2002 Nov;61(4):363-72
references.pmid: 12546194
references.citation: Dev Cell. 2004 Feb;6(2):193-203
references.pmid: 14960274
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Oct 16;104(42):16708-13
references.pmid: 17940054