Metabolic Changes Associated with Different Levels of Energy Deficits in Mediterranean Buffaloes during the Early Lactation Stage: Type and Role of the Main Lipid Fractions Involved

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 14; p. 2333
• Main Authors: Lisuzzo, Anastasia, Alterisio, Maria Chiara, Mazzotta, Elisa, Ciaramella, Paolo, Guccione, Jacopo, Gianesella, Matteo, Badon, Tamara, Fiore, Enrico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.07.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipose tissues; Analysis; Animal lactation; Animals; Body fat; Cholesterol; Chromatography; Dairy cattle; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Fatty acids; ketosis; lipid classes; Lipids; Medical equipment and supplies industry; Medical test kit industry; Mediterranean buffaloes; Metabolism; negative energy balance; Physiological aspects; Plasma; Statistical analysis; TLC-GC; Veterinary medicine; United States; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Italy; Mediterranean buffaloes; negative energy balance; ketosis; TLC-GC; lipid classes
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani13142333

Cell function and energy redistribution are influenced by lipid classes (phospholipids (PLs), free fatty acids (FFAs), triglycerides (TGs), and cholesterol esters (CEs)). The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic alterations that are related to changes in lipid classes according to different levels of energy deficits in early lactating Mediterranean buffaloes (MBs). Sixty-three MBs were enrolled at the beginning of lactation using an observational study with a cross-sectional experimental design. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were used to group the animals into a healthy group (Group H; = 38; BHB < 0.70 mmol/L) and hyperketonemia risk group (Group K; = 25; BHB ≥ 0.70 mmol/L). Statistical analysis was performed using a linear model that included the effect of the group and body condition score to assess differences in fatty acid (FA) concentrations. A total of 40 plasma FAs were assessed in each lipid class. Among the FAs, eight PLs, seven FFAs, four TGs, and four CEs increased according to BHB levels, while three FFAs, three TGs, and one CE decreased. The changes among lipid class profiles suggested the influence of inflammatory response, liver metabolism, and the state of body lipid reserves. In addition, the possible similarities of buffaloes at risk of hyperketonemia with ketotic cows suggest the necessity of further investigations in these ruminants.