Changes of plasma metabolites, hormones, and mRNA expression of Liver PEPCK-C in spontaneously ketotic dairy cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand changes of plasma metabolites, hormones, and mRNA level of cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) in liver in spontaneous clinical ketosis; 10 clinically ketotic cows and 10 healthy cows were chosen from the same dairy farm. Eleven blood parameters and liver fat content were measured in all cows, and mRNA levels of PEPCK-C in liver were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In ketotic cows, concentration of plasma glucose decreased (p<0.01), concentration of plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and ßhydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) increased (p<0.01), liver fat content (18.8% wet weight) and activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (p<0.01), but concentration of plasma total bilirubin (TBIL), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), and Cholinesterase (CHE) increased (p>0.05). In addition, concentration of plasma insulin decreased (p<0.05), concentration of plasma glucagons decreased (p>0.05), and mRNA level of PEPCK-C in liver increased (p<0.05). It is concluded that the adaptative changes of metabolites, hormones, and mRNA level of PEPCK-C in ketotic cows were in favor of the enhancement of gluconeogenesis, the decrease of fat mobilization and the relief of ketosis, but these were still inadequate to relieve ketosis.