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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311340
Title: In utero exposure to lipopolysaccharide alters the postnatal metabolic response in heifers.

Author
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item SHARON, KATE - Texas Tech University
item ARTHINGTON, JOHN - University Of Florida
item LANCASTER, PHILLIP - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/31/2014
Publication Date: 2/8/2015
Citation: Sanchez, N.C., Carroll, J.A., Sharon, K.P., Arthington, J.D., Lancaster, P.A. 2015. In utero exposure to lipopolysaccharide alters the postnatal metabolic response in heifers.. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 93(E-Supplement 1):29.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to determine the effect of prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure on the postnatal metabolic response to LPS challenge in heifer calves. Pregnant crossbred cows (n=50) were separated into prenatal stress (PNS; n=25; administered 0.1 microgram per kilogram body weight LPS subcutaneously 233 +/- 15 days of gestation) and saline groups (Cont; n=25). From these treatments, heifer calves (n= 12 PNS and 11 Cont) were identified at weaning (238 +/- 15 days of age) to subsequently receive an LPS challenge. On day 0 heifers were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and were moved into individual pens. On day 1, heifers were challenged intraveneously with LPS (0.5 microgram per kilogram body weight) at 0 hour (1000h). Whole blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals from -2 to 8 hours and again at 24 hours relative to the LPS challenge. Serum was isolated and stored at -80C until analyzed for cortisol, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS specific for repeated measures. There was a treatment x time interaction (P<0.001) for cortisol such that PNS heifers had greater cortisol from 4 to 6.5 hours post-challenge (P<0.001). There was a treatment x time interaction (P=0.04) for serum glucose such that glucose was greater (P=0.01) in PNS than Cont heifers at 0.5 hours but was greater in Cont than PNS heifers at 2, 4.5, and 7 hours post-challenge. This resulted in overall time (P<0.001) and treatment (P=0.001) effects such that Cont heifers had greater (68.6 +/- 1.1 miligrams per deciliter) glucose concentrations than PNS heifers (63.4 +/- 1.0 miligrams per deciliter). There was a tendency (P=0.10) for a treatment x time interaction for serum NEFA such that NEFA was greater in Cont than PNS heifers at -2, -1.5, and 7 hours relative to the challenge (P=0.02). Also, there were time (P<0.001) and treatment effects (P=0.002) for NEFA with Cont heifers having greater NEFA (0.30 +/- 0.01 milimolar) than PNS heifers (0.20 +/- 0.01 milimolar). Serum BUN was affected by a treatment x time interaction (P=0.002). Concentrations of BUN were greater in PNS heifers from -1.5 to -1 hour, 1 to 2 hours, at 4 hours, and from 5 to 24 hours relative to the challenge. Additionally, serum BUN concentrations were affected by time (P<0.001) and treatment (P<0.001) such that PNS heifers had greater BUN (12.1 +/- 0.1 miligrams per deciliter) than Cont heifers (9.5 +/- 0.2 miligrams per deciliter). Results from this study demonstrate that the postnatal metabolic response can be significantly altered with a single exposure to LPS in utero.