Response of the cholesterol metabolism to a negative energy balance in dairy cows depends on the lactational stage

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6; p. e0121956
• Main Authors: Gross, Josef J, Kessler, Evelyne C, Albrecht, Christiane, Bruckmaier, Rupert M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: ABCA1 protein; Acyltransferase; Adaptation; Animal lactation; Animals; Apolipoproteins; ATP-binding protein; Binding; Body fat; Case-Control Studies; Cattle; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - genetics; Cholesterol - metabolism; Coenzyme A; Dairy cattle; Dairying; Energy; Energy balance; Energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Feeds; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic aspects; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase; Lactation; Lactation - metabolism; Lecithin; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Lipoproteins (very low density); Liver; Liver - metabolism; Liver - physiology; Low density lipoprotein; Metabolism; Metabolites; Milk; Milk - metabolism; mRNA; Nutrient deficiency; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase - metabolism; Phospholipid transfer protein; Phospholipids; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Postpartum; Proteins; Regulatory sequences; Rodents; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Switzerland; Germany
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121956
• ISSN: 1932-6203

The response of cholesterol metabolism to a negative energy balance (NEB) induced by feed restriction for 3 weeks starting at 100 days in milk (DIM) compared to the physiologically occurring NEB in week 1 postpartum (p.p.) was investigated in 50 dairy cows (25 control (CON) and 25 feed-restricted (RES)). Blood samples, liver biopsies and milk samples were taken in week 1 p.p., and in weeks 0 and 3 of feed restriction. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (C), phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TAG), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) increased in RES cows from week 0 to 3 during feed restriction and were higher in week 3 compared to CON cows. In contrast, during the physiologically occurring NEB in week 1 p.p., C, PL, TAG and lipoprotein concentrations were at a minimum. Plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities did not differ between week 0 and 3 for both groups, whereas during NEB in week 1 p.p. PLTP activity was increased and LCAT activity was decreased. Milk C concentration was not affected by feed restriction in both groups, whereas milk C mass was decreased in week 3 for RES cows. In comparison, C concentration and mass in milk were elevated in week 1 p.p. Hepatic mRNA abundance of sterol regulatory element-binding factor-2 (SREBF-2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 1 (HMGCS1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), and ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1) were similar in CON and RES cows during feed restriction, but were upregulated during NEB in week 1 p.p. compared to the non-lactating stage without a NEB. In conclusion, cholesterol metabolism in dairy cows is affected by nutrient and energy deficiency depending on the stage of lactation.