Association between phagocytic activity of monocytes and days to conception after parturition in dairy cows when considering the hormonal and metabolic milieu

PERALTA, M.B.; CAINELLI, S.; STASSI, A.F.; ANGELI, E.; RENNA, MS; SIGNORINI ML.; GAREIS, N.C.; DURANTE, L.; REY, F.; ORTEGA, H.H.; SALVETTI, N.R.; VELÁZQUEZ, M.M.L.

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2021

0378-4320

The nutritional conditions and immune status of dairy cows affect reproductive performance. Thisstudy was conducted with the aim to analyze the phagocytic activity (PA) and phagocytic capacity (PC) of circulating monocytes after the period of transition from pregnancy to lactation, toevaluate possible associations with duration of time period to conception following parturition.Results indicated PA was not associated with duration of time period to conception followingparturition. In contrast, cows with a lesser PC conceived earlier (98 ± 9 days in milk, DIM) thanthose with a greater PC (168 ± 15 DIM). Based on these results, to analyze the association of thehormonal and metabolic milieu with the PA and PC, the animals were grouped considering thedays to conception following parturition. In the group with the greater number of days toconception (>168 DIM), the PA was associated with concentrations of progesterone and betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) at 90 DIM and glucose at 120 DIM, whereas PC was associated withthe concentrations of progesterone, cortisol and glucose at 90 DIM, non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA) at 120 DIM, 17β-estradiol at 150 DIM, and 17β-estradiol and BHB at 180 DIM. Overall,these results represent a new perspective related to the reproductive performance of dairy cows.The modifications of cellular functions may be useful for predicting the onset of health complications in dairy cows and to manage cows in ways that result in an enhanced fertility during the subsequent lactational period.