Plasma osteocalcin concentrations in cattle under various pathophysiological conditions

• Published in: Bone and mineral Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 131 - 137
• Main Authors: Davicco, M.-J., Coxam, V., Roux, R., Barlet, J.-P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Inc 01.08.1990; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Bone; Calcitriol - blood; Calcium - blood; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - blood; Female; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hypocalcaemia; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Lactation - blood; Life Sciences; Male; Osteocalcin; Osteocalcin - blood; Parturient Paresis - blood; Phosphorus - blood; Pregnancy; Skeleton and joints; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Osteocalcin; Bone; Hypocalcaemia; Cattle; Ox; Metabolism; Inorganic element; Proteins; Vertebrata; Regulation(control); Mammalia; Newborn animal; Radioimmunoassay; Fetus; Artiodactyla; Ungulata; Hypocalcemia
• ISSN: 0169-6009
• DOI: 10.1016/0169-6009(90)90088-W

Plasma osteocalcin (BGP) concentrations were measured using an homologous radioimmunoassay in plasma samples ( n = 6–14 per group) from fetal and newborn calves, 16-month-old heifers and bulls, and pregnant lactating cows. The highest values (nM) (62 ± 3) were measured in fetal calves and the lowest (15 ± 3) in 9-year-old pregnant and lactating cows. No significant relationship could be demonstrated between plasma BGP and somatomedin C, or 1,25(OH) 2D or calcium concentrations. In eight normally calving cows, parturition was followed by a progressive increase in plasma BGP concentration, maximum 3 days after calving. It returned to prepartum values 10 days later. In six parturient hypocalcaemic and paretic cows, hypocalcaemia occurring within 12 h following calving was associated with a prompt and very transient increase in plasma BGP concentrations. These results indicate that osteocalcin might play a role in the regulation of bone metabolism in cattle.