title: Effects of a single glucocorticoid injection on propylene glycol-treated cows with clinical ketosis.
abstract: This study investigated the metabolic effects of glucocorticoids when administered to propylene glycol-treated cows with clinical ketosis. Clinical ketosis was defined by depressed feed intake and milk production, and a maximal score for acetoacetate in urine. All cows received 250 mL oral propylene glycol twice daily for 3 days and were randomly assigned to a single intramuscular injection with sterile isotonic saline solution (n = 14) or dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate (n = 17). Metabolic blood variables were monitored for 6 days and adipose tissue variables for 3 days. β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations in blood decreased in all cows during treatment, but were lower in glucocorticoid-treated cows. Cows treated with glucocorticoids had higher plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, whereas concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, 3-methylhistidine and growth hormone were unaffected. mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase, BHBA receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor type γ in adipose tissue was not affected. This shows that lipolytic effects do not appear to be important in ketotic cows when glucocorticoids are combined with PG. Plasma 3-methyl histidine concentrations were similar in both groups, suggesting that glucocorticoids did not increase muscle breakdown and that the greater rise in plasma glucose in glucocorticoid-treated cows may not be due to increased supply of glucogenic amino acids from muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: sgavanderdrift@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saskia G A
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: van der Drift
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houweling
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouman
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ad P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Koets
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aloysius G M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tielens
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nielen
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruurd
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jorritsma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003908:Dexamethasone Isonicotinate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007662:Ketosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000097:blood; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D008762:Methylhistidines; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D003908:Dexamethasone Isonicotinate; C028118:3-methylhistidine
keywords: Clinical ketosis; Dairy cow; Glucocorticoids; Propylene glycol; β-Hydroxybutyrate