Protein and gene expression of relevant enzymes and nuclear receptor of hepatic lipid metabolism in grazing dairy cattle during the transition period

ANGELI, E.; TRIONFINI, V.; GAREIS, N.C.; MATILLER, V.; HUBER, E.; REY, F.; SALVETTI, N.R.; ORTEGA, H.H.; HEIN, G.J.

RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2019 vol. 123 p. 223 - 231

0034-5288

We aimed to study the protein and gene expression of some hepatic enzymes of lipid metabolism along withplasma biomarkers in grazing dairy cattle during the transition period. Blood and liver biopsies from a group ofeight multiparous cows were sampled at −28, −14, +4, +14, +28 and +56 days relative to parturition. Peakconcentrations of NEFA and beta-hydroxybutyric acid with high triacylglycerol content in the liver were recordedon day 4 postpartum. Consistent with blood biomarkers, the gene expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase1A (CPT1A) and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) increased, whereas that of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase1 (DGAT1) decreased. Nevertheless, CPT1A protein expression did not change during all the periodevaluated and ACOX1 protein expression increased on day 56 postpartum. In addition, the protein expression ofperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha) increased on day 28 postpartum. On the otherhand, DGAT1 protein expression decreased on day 14 postpartum. As expected, the expression of genes associatedwith fatty acid oxidation increased on the first days postpartum but, notably, protein expression washighest after transition. Since most infectious diseases and metabolic disorders in dairy cattle occur particularlyon the first days postpartum, it is not so clear whether an increase in the oxidation capacity of the liver at thattime could help to prevent disease and improve dairy production. The valuable results about protein expressionof enzymes involved in liver lipid metabolism could help to better characterize the metabolism of dairy cattleduring the transition period