title: The effects of short term dietary restriction on haematological responses and leukocyte gene expression of anovulatory and ovulatory beef heifers.
abstract: The study objective was to characterise the impact of negative energy balance (NEB) on immune-stress responsiveness in beef heifers. A short term (18-day) dietary restriction model was used. Dietary restriction (0.4 maintenance (Mn) energy requirements) induced abrupt onset of anoestrus in nine heifers (Restricted Anovulatory; RA) while nineteen heifers maintained oestrous cyclicity (Restricted Ovulatory; RO). In addition a control (C) group of 12 heifers received a higher level of feeding (1.2 Mn). Haematological related biomarkers of husbandry stress, leukocyte gene expression of seven cytokine genes and five immunological biomarkers were investigated. After 18 days of differential feeding of the heifers alterations in eosinophil and monocyte numbers and altered expression of CXCL8, IL2 and TNFα could be attributed to diet restriction. More specifically, changes in these five variables were found in heifers that became anovulatory (RA) and are therefore considered to be more sensitive biomarkers to an energy deficit.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland; School of Agriculture and Food Science, National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Daragh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sinéad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland; Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Diskin
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dermot G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland. Electronic address: bernadette.earley@teagasc.ie.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Earley
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010060:Ovulation; D011897:Random Allocation; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Gene expression; Haematology; Heifers; Immune response genes; Negative energy balance; Stress