J Vet Sci.  2015 Dec;16(4):413-421. 10.4142/jvs.2015.16.4.413.

Serum IGFBP4 concentration decreased in dairy heifers towards day 18 of pregnancy

Affiliations
  • 1Endocrinology Laboratory, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hanover, Germany. marion.schmicke@tiho-hannover.de
  • 2Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
  • 3Reproduction Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
  • 4Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Leibniz University, 30167 Hanover, Germany.
  • 5Ligandis GbR, 18276 Gulzow-Pruzen, Germany.
  • 6Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
  • 7National Institute for Agricultural Research, UMR1198 INRA-ENVA, Biologie du Developpe et Reproduction, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
  • 8Immunology Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hanover, Germany.

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if the main components of the somatotropic axis change during the early phase of pregnancy in the maternal blood system and whether differences exist on day 18 after pregnancy recognition by the maternal organism. Blood samples of pregnant heifers (Holstein Friesian; n = 10 after embryo transfer) were obtained on the day of ovulation (day 0), as well as on days 7, 14, 16 and 18 and during pregnant, non-pregnant and negative control cycles. The oncentrations of progesterone (P4), oestrogen, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 and -2 (IGF1, -2) and IGF-binding protein-2, -3 and -4 (IGFBP2, -3, -4) were measured. The mRNA expressions of growth hormone receptor 1A, IGF1, IGF2, IGFBP2, IGFBP3 and IGFBP4 were detected using RT-qPCR in liver biopsy specimens (day 18). In all groups, total serum IGF1 decreased from day 0 to 16. Notably, IGFBP4 maternal blood concentrations were lower during pregnancy than during non-pregnant cycles and synchronized control cycles. It can be speculated that the lower IGFBP4 in maternal blood may result in an increase of free IGF1 for local action. Further studies regarding IGFBP4 concentration and healthy early pregnancy are warranted.

Keyword

dairy cattle; insulin-like growth factor-1; insulin-like growth factor-2; insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2; pregnancy

MeSH Terms

Axis
Biopsy
Embryonic Structures
Female
Growth Hormone
Liver
Ovulation
Pregnancy*
Progesterone
Receptors, Somatotropin
RNA, Messenger
Growth Hormone
Progesterone
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Somatotropin

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Exemplary illustration of binuclear trophoblast giant cells detectable in HE-stained histological slides of flushed trophoblast tissue from day 18 pregnant heifers. (A) Photo of the trophectoderm of a day 18 conceptus (1.0 × 10; Leica DFC 290; Leica, Germany). (B) Microscopic view of trophectoderm tissue with trophoblast giant cells (arrow) stained with H&E (Olympus XC50; 40×/0.50 UPlanFI; Olympus, Germany).

  • Fig. 2 (a) Progesterone and (b) estrogen blood concentrations (mean ± SE) of pregnant (P) and respective non-pregnant (NP) and negative control cycles (NC). Results of the SAS mixed model indicating significant (p < 0.05) differences regarding the fixed effects group, time and group × time are shown in the table. Different letters (a, b) indicate significant differences between P, NP, and NC.

  • Fig. 3 (A) Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) 1, (B) IGF2 and (C) growth hormone (GH) blood concentrations (mean ± SE) of P and respective NP and NC. Results of the SAS mixed model indicating significant (p < 0.05) differences regarding the fixed effects group, time and group × time are shown in the table. Different letters (a, b) indicate significant differences between P, NP, and NC.

  • Fig. 4 (A) IGFBP2, (B) IGFBP3, and (C) IGFBP4 blood concentrations (mean ± SE) of P and respective NP and NC. Results of the SAS mixed model indicating significant (p < 0.05) differences regarding the fixed effects group, time and group × time are shown in the table. Different letters (a, b) indicate significant differences between P, NP, and NC.


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Prepubertal growth and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of the growth hormone gene of low birth weight Holstein calves
Younghye Ro, Woojae Choi, Hoyung Kim, Hojin Jang, Hoseon Lee, Yoonseok Lee, Danil Kim
J Vet Sci. 2018;19(1):157-160.    doi: 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.1.157.


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