Comparison of Enzyme Activities in Plasma and Leukocytes in Dairy and Beef Cattle

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Concentrations of plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and free fatty acid (FFA) and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme pattern in plasma and leukocytes were investigated in lactating Hols tein cows (dairy cattle) and fattening Japanese Black Wagyu x Holstein steers (beef cattle). IRI concentrations and LDH and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities in the plasma of beef cattle were significantly higher than those in dairy cattle. The cytosolic rat io of MDH/ LDH activity in the leukocytes of beef cattle was significantly higher than that of dairy cattle. These findings might be associated with the different energy metabolism between dairy and beef cattle. KEY WORDS: beef cattle, insulin, malate dehydrogenase.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 65(11): 1241-1243, 2003 It has been reported that activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism including ATP production in peripheral leukocytes are very variable in animal species [23,24]. In particular, activities of enzymes in the malate-aspartate shuttle, which has a very important role in the transfer from cytosolic NADH to mitochondrial NADH [13], change remarkably according to variation in energy metabolism of animals [2]. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a tetrameric molecule made up of four subunits of the two parent molecules, the H and M subunits, and each tissue has a characteristic composition of isoenzymes [8]. The isoenzyme patterns of LDH are variable in plasma and leukocytes of each animal species [24]. Activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in leukocytes are considered to reflect the metabolic states in animal tissues [2,3,24]. On the other hand, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations are different between dairy and beef cattle [12,15,20,22]. It has been reported that Japanese Black heifers have higher plasma insulin level at 18 mo of age than at or before 12 mo of age, whilst Holstein heifers have very similar values at all stages [19].In the present study, activities of enzymes in the malateaspartate shuttle and LDH and LDH isoenzyme pattern were determined in plasma and peripheral leukocytes of the lactating dairy cattle and the fattening beef cattle to clarify one aspect of the differences in energy metabolism between the dairy and beef cattle.Eight lactating dairy Holstein cows (5 to 8 years old) maintained with good quality hay and concentrates in the Fuji Animal Farm of our university and four fattening Japanese Black Wagyu × Holstein steers (2 years old) kept with high concentrate feed at a farm in Shimane Prefecture were used. Blood was withdrawn from the jugular vein into heparinized tubes, with the animals at rest and unfasted. The plasma was recovered by centrifugation at 4°C. Leukocytes were isolated by centrifugation with a lymphocyte-isolating solution (ICN Biochemical Inc., Aurora, OH, U.S.A.). Cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of leukocytes were prepared by the method described previously [23]. The activities of the enzymes were measured by using reported met...

Serum metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities in finishing bull calves fed different types of high-grain diets

“…When used in conjunction with the physical examination the chemistry panel may be useful for establishing initial baseline parameters, formulating a problem or rule out list, planning nutritional options and monitoring the response to it (Russell & Roussel 2007). In fact, in previous studies, plasma metabolite concentrations and the activities of certain enzymes involved in energy metabolism have been shown to be useful indicators of changes in the metabolic status of beef cattle and other animals (Brown et al 2000a, Arai et al 2003, Mori et al 2007.…”

Comparison of Plasma Metabolite Concentrations and Peripheral Leukocyte Enzyme Activities in Sheep Fed on Different Diets in New Zealand and Japan

“…On the other hand, LDH-P activity reflects the total activity of LDH, whereas LDH-L activity is considered to reflect mainly the activity of LDH-1 and -2, which convert lactate to pyruvate. The LDH-L/P ratios in plasma and leukocytes in ruminants, which have a dominance of LDH-1, -2 and -3 in their livers, are significantly higher than in dog and cat livers, in which LDH-4 and -5 are dominant (Arai et al, 2003b). LDH isozyme patterns in leukocytes are very close to those in livers of animals (Tanaka et al, 2006).…”

Changes in metabolite, energy metabolism related enzyme activities and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) Populations in beef heifers with two differing liveweight change profiles in New Zealand

“…Plasma (1∼2 ml) was recovered by centrifugation at 4°C and stored at −80°C until use. Peripheral leukocytes were isolated from the buffy coat and washed with cold phosphatebuffered saline (PBS), and cytosolic fractions and mitochondrial fractions were prepared by a method described previously (Arai et al 2003b). …”

“…On the other hand, plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme patterns which are specific for each animal species, are used as a marker for evaluating metabolic conditions in animals including cattle (Arai et al 2003a;Tanaka et al 2006;Sako et al 2007). Peripheral leukocytes enzyme activities were also a good marker for metabolic conditions of cattle (Arai et al 2003b. It has been reported that stress and nutritional conditions influence cattle immunity (Carroll and Forsberg 2007) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) population change in cattle with different nutritional conditions (Lake et al 2006;Ohtsuka et al 2006b).…”