The rapid increase of circulating adiponectin in neonatal calves depends on colostrum intake.
Adiponectin, an adipokine, regulates metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Considering that the transplacental transfer of maternal proteins of high molecular weight is hindered in ruminants, this study tested the hypothesis that the blood concentration of adiponectin in neonatal calves largely reflects their endogenous synthesis whereby the intake of colostrum might modify the circulating concentrations. We thus characterized the adiponectin concentrations in neonatal and young calves that were fed either colostrum or formula. Three trials were performed: in trial 1, 20 calves were all fed colostrum for 3 d, and then formula until weaning. Blood samples were collected on d 0 (before colostrum feeding), and on d 1, 3, 11, 22, 34, 43, 52, 70, 90, and 108 postnatum. In trial 2, 14 calves were studied for the first 4 d of life. They were fed colostrum (n=7) or formula (n=7), and blood samples were taken right after birth and before each morning feeding on d 2, 3, and 4. In trial 3, calves born preterm (n=7) or at term received colostrum only at 24 h postnatum. Blood was sampled at birth, and before and 2 h after feeding. Additionally, allantoic fluid and blood from 4 Holstein cows undergoing cesarean section were sampled. Adiponectin was quantified by ELISA. In trial 1, the serum adiponectin concentrations recorded on d 3 were 4.7-fold higher than before colostrum intake. The distribution of the molecular weight forms of adiponectin differed before and after colostrum consumption. In trial 2, the colostrum group had consistently greater plasma adiponectin concentrations than the formula group after the first meal. In trial 3, the preterm calves tended to have lower concentrations of plasma adiponectin than the term calves at birth and before and 2 h after feeding. Furthermore, the adiponectin concentrations were substantially lower in allantoic fluid than in the sera from neonatal calves and from cows at parturition. Our results show that calves are born with very low blood concentrations of adiponectin and placental transfer of adiponectin to the bovine fetus is unlikely. In conclusion, colostrum intake is essential for the postnatal increase of circulating adiponectin in newborn calves.
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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Kesser
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Muenchweiler a.d. Alsenz, Germany.
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Hill
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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JF
Heinz
Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Muenchweiler a.d. Alsenz, Germany.
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Koch
University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
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J
Rehage
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Steinhoff-Wagner
Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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HM
Hammon
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Mielenz
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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Sauerwein
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, 5166616471 Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: hsadri@uni-bonn.de.
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Sadri
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D001826:Body Fluids; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy
D052242:Adiponectin
adiponectin; colostrum; milk-based formula; newborn calf; preterm-born