Postnatal hypoglycemia and blood glucose concentrations in neonatal tropical goat kids

Abstract

Functional changes during immediate postnatal life involve metabolic, thermoregulatory, respiratory, and cardiovascular adjustments from the period of neonatal adaptation to that of physiologic maturity. 1,2 Thermoregulation in neonatal goats is generally poor at birth, and blood glucose plays a significant supportive role by supplying substrate for shivering thermogenesis to aid thermoregulation. [3][4][5] During immediate postnatal life, the newborn animal depends on brown adipose tissue as the primary

Neonatal infrared thermography images in the hypothermic ruminant model: Anatomical-morphological-physiological aspects and mechanisms for thermoregulation

“…Hypoglycemia at birth has been reported in 22.5% of goat kids, but figures are significantly higher for the Sahel breed, twins, and newborns with low birth weight ( 55 ). When neonates' glucose concentrations are inadequate, they begin to consume muscular reserves through the Cori cycle.…”

“…This limit on glycogen storage in the liver and muscles at birth means that goat kids, lambs, and calves have low glucose concentrations that make them susceptible to hypoglycemia since those limited reserves can be depleted rapidly within the first 12 h postpartum. This effect exacerbates if the onset of feeding is delayed ( 55 ).…”

“…Vasoconstriction at peripheral areas such as the thoracic and pelvic limbs, nose and tail prevents heat dissipation and also reduces said structures' superficial temperature ( 26 ). The increase in the temperature of the pelvic limb and nostril window according to the age of the newborn, could be explained because the newborn gets dry, reducing heat loss by evaporation, so the calf can reach a thermostability after drying the coat ( 1 , 15 ) and after colostrum intake provides them of glucose and energy reserves ( 55 ).…”

“…The concentration of endogenous energy sources in the form of liver is essential because it is the first metabolic pathway to produce heat ( 53 ). However, both muscle and liver glycogens are a limited resource in the postpartum period, and variable according to the pregnancy characteristics, such as malnutrition present in the mother, which generates hypoglycemia in the ewe fetus ( 55 ). In this sense, using the mentioned resource, when colostrum is not ingested in the first 24 h of life, could ensure constant plasma glucose levels in calves ( 53 ), increasing the newborn's ability to thermoregulate at calving adequately.…”

Comparative metabolomics reveals serum metabolites changes in goats during different developmental stages

“…GLU is the main source of energy for ruminants. Studies have shown that goats have low blood sugar levels after birth and gradually increase with age 30 . In this study, goats had slightly higher blood glucose levels than D60 after birth, possibly related to the goats’ postnatal colostrum intake to maintain energy needs 31 , 32 .…”