Serum levels of insulin like growth factor-l and total protein in newborn calves offered different amounts of colostrums

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to determine the concentrations of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and total protein in blood serum from calves consuming different amounts of colostrum during the first 32 h of postnatal life, as well as at 7 days old. The experiment involved two groups of calves. The first group was offered the standard amount of colostrum while the second group received half the recommended amount. At birth serum concentration of IGF-I was in the range from 5 to 13 nmol/L. Compared to the initial level there was a marked decrease of mean IGF-I concentration in both groups of calves at 2 h after the first intake of colostrum. Thereafter, the level gradually increased until 20 h of age, more markedly in the group which received the full ration of colostrum. The highest mean IGF-I concentrations were recorded at 20 h in both groups (11.81 nmol/L for group one and 8.96 nmol/L for group two), and were significantly higher than values recorded 2h after the first intake of colostrum. Two hours after the third intake of colostrum, serum concentration of IGF-I dropped in both groups, compared with the value recorded at 20 h. During the time period from 4hto32h after birth, the calves that received the standard amount of colostrum had a significantly higher mean concentration of serum IGF-I than the calves which received an insufficient amount. Calves were born with serum concentrations of total proteins, which were lower than those found for adult animals. Serum protein concentrations in the calves that consumed normal amounts of colostrum increased more rapidly than in the calves that received insufficient amounts of colostrum. Presumably, total protein concentrations increased as a consequence of colostral immunoglobulin absorption. Thus our results indicate that the amounts of colostrum received during the first 32 h of postnatal life had strong effects on the serum concentrations of IGF-I and total proteins. The differences in IGF-I concentrations between the two groups of calves may have been a consequence of greater colostral IGF-I absorption and/or the result of greater absorption of other colostral components, which stimulate endogenous synthesis of this bioactive substance in the tissues of neonatal calves

The serum levels of insulin and igf-i in newborn piglets treated with clinoptilolite

“…An increase in circulating IGF-I concentration in response to feeding occurs gradually: typically a significant increase above the fasting baseline requires at least 6 hours (Davis et al, 1996). Our previous results concerning serum IGF-I levels in newborn calves indicated that it is dependant on the amount of ingested colostrum (Kirovski et al, 2002). Our present study indicates that clinoptilolite treatment in newborn piglets effectively increases serum IGF-I concentration.…”

“…This increase is consistent and less variable than the apparent increase in serum insulin concentration. Assuming that the amount of ingested colostrum is uniform in the treated and control group of piglets, the difference in the blood serum IGF-I concentrations could not be attributed to this factor, as was the case in our previous experiment in calves (Kirovski et al, 2002). However, we cannot exclude the possi-bility of greater endogenous synthesis of IGF-I in various tissues of the neonatal piglets.…”

Dehydration as a risk factor for calf mortality in northern Australia

“…Plasma proteins do not leave the vasculature readily (Armstrong et al, 1998), and therefore neonatal calves that ingest colostrum may have a corresponding level of plasma globulin and total protein, which is maintained beyond colostrum production of the cow. This is consistent with a study on neonatal calves that demonstrated a marked increase in serum protein concentration within two hours of feeding (Danijela et al, 2002).…”

“…In the same study, feeding of 3 or 1.5 litres of colostrum during the first 12 hours of life led to differences in serum protein concentration at 4 hours post-feeding (54.7 g/L and 42.7 g/L, respectively) and at day 7 of life (69.5 g/L and 60 g/L, respectively; Danijela et al, 2002). A limitation in the use of plasma protein or globulin concentration as an indicator of volume of colostrum uptake may be that there is decreasing efficiency of IgG absorption by calves, where every 30 minute delay of first colostrum decreases calf serum IgG concentration by about 2 mg/mL (Rajala and Castren, 1995).…”

“…With theoretical addition of values, significance was achieved at day one (p<0.05; n=8 per group) and day two (p<0.05; n=7 per group). The study of Danijela et al (2002), which showed differences in total protein, had 8 calves in each high and low colostrum group. Therefore the use of plasma globulin as a measure of milk uptake may be verified with further experimentation.…”