Effects of differential supplementation of fatty acids during the peripartum and breeding periods of Holstein cows: II. Neutrophil fatty acids and function, and acute phase proteins

Abstract

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of differential supplementation of Ca salts (CS) of fatty acids (FA) on plasma acute phase proteins and both FA composition and function (i.e., activity and cytokine production) of neutrophils, during the peripartum and breeding periods. Holstein cows were assigned randomly to receive either CS of palm (PO) or safflower (SO) oils from 30 d prepartum until 35 d postpartum (dpp) and CS of PO or fish oil (FO) from 35 to 160 dpp. Supplementation of CS of FA was at 1.5% of dietary dry matter. Cows (n=32) were sampled three times weekly from parturition to 35 dpp for analyses of plasma concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen. Cows (n=47) were sampled for neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst activities toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and neutrophil abundances of L-selectin and β(2)-integrin assessed by flow cytometry at 32 d prepartum, within 7h after parturition, and 4 and 7 dpp. Profiles of FA in neutrophils and cytokine production (i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were assessed prepartum (n=14), 35 (PO vs. SO; n=26) and 85 dpp (PO vs. FO; n=28). Plasma concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen were greater for cows fed SO compared with PO. The percentage of neutrophils with phagocytic and oxidative burst activities was not affected by transition diets, but activities per neutrophil were greater in SO compared with PO diets at 4 (phagocytosis and oxidative burst) and 7 dpp (oxidative burst). Neutrophil abundance of L-selectin, but not β(2)-integrin, was greater in SO compared with PO at 4 and 7 dpp. Neutrophil productions of TNF-α and IL-1β were increased at 35 dpp in SO compared with PO diets, but production of TNF-α was attenuated in FO compared with PO at 85 dpp. Neutrophil ratios of n-6:n-3 FA were greater at 35 dpp in the SO diet and less at 85 dpp in FO compared with PO diets. In conclusion, cows supplemented with CS of SO had improved innate immunity (i.e., acute phase response and neutrophil function) to better cope with the bacterial challenges in the postpartum period. Conversely, CS of FO attenuated neutrophil cytokine production.

Effects of duodenal infusion of free α-linolenic acid on the plasma and milk proteome of lactating dairy cows

“…Of particular note, the haptoglobin concentrations in the cows with high milk SCC were significantly higher than those in plasma of the healthy cows (Eckersall et al, 2001;Pyö rä lä , 2003). These results are consistent with previous findings that transition cows supplemented with Ca salts of safflower oil had greater plasma haptoglobin concentrations than cows supplemented with Ca salts of palm oil (Silvestre et al, 2011). Dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids has immunosuppressive effects through antigen presentation, T cell responses and fatty acid-derived inflammatory mediator production (Shaikh and Edidin, 2007;Yaqoob and Calder, 2007).…”

Immune and oxidative response to linseed in the diet of periparturient Holstein cows

“…Ordóňez et al (2008) compared PHA and PHI of neutrophils from milk and blood using Staphylococcus aureus; those results are similar to the one in our C group. PHA and PHI were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the LS group which is not in relation with Silvestre et al (2011). They used S. aureus and Escherichia coli to determine PHA of dairy cow neutrophils according to a different dietary fatty acid composition and found that dietary treatment did not influence PHA whereas bacteria species did.…”

Effects of flaxseed, raw soybeans and calcium salts of fatty acids on apparent total tract digestibility, energy balance and milk fatty acid profile of transition cows

“…Although unsaturated FA are known as modifiers of physiology and metabolism, for example, modulating immune function and reproduction in dairy cows (Silvestre et al, 2011a and2011b), they alter bacterial cell integrity (Maia et al, 2007) and impair ruminal fermentation. The matrix complex that surrounds the cotyledon(s) (which represents 90% of the weight and contains practically all the oil and protein) of oilseeds offers some protection to the access of ruminal microorganisms (Lock and Bauman, 2004), and can be added in lactating cow diets without decreasing NDF total tract digestion and impairing ruminal fermentation (Almeida et al, 2015).…”