Changes in oxidative stress parameters in healthy and diseased Holstein cows during the transition period in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

We investigated changes in oxidative stress markers during the transition period in healthy Holstein cows and those with postpartum diseases. Transition control (TC) Holstein cows (n=9) were evaluated for longitudinal changes during the transition period and postpartum diseased (PD) cows with ketosis (n=10), abomasal displacement (n=9), and acute mastitis (n=10) were evaluated in comparison to control cows (n=10). In the TC group, blood samples were collected at 2 weeks prepartum and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum. Milk yield and composition were measured at 2 and 4 weeks postpartum. In the PD group, blood samples were collected at the first day of examination during the 60 days postpartum. Peripheral oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, MDA; potential antioxidant capacity, PAO; and glutathione peroxidase) were measured, and biochemical analyses were performed. In the TC group, MDA increased significantly postpartum and was correlated with milk yield, blood glucose (Glu), free fatty acid (FFA), β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB), and aspartate aminotransferase. Compared to the control cows, PD cows with ketosis had significantly higher MDA and significantly lower PAO. Moreover, MDA was significantly correlated with Glu, FFA, and BHB. Postpartum increase in MDA might interact with milk yield and Glu, FFA, and BHB in the TC cows, and postpartum diseases, especially ketosis, might signify its increase and interaction with Glu, FFA, and BHB.

Keywords: dairy cow; negative energy balance; oxidative stress; postpartum disease; transition period.

Fig. 1.

Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum potential antioxidant capacity (PAO) values in control (n=10) cows and those with ketosis (n=10), abomasal displacement (n=9), or mastitis (n=10). Values are means ± SD. *Denotes significant difference (P<0.05) compared with the control cows.

Fig. 2.

Correlation analysis between the oxidative stress markers (MDA; malondialdehyde, and PAO; potential antioxidant capacity) and blood biochemical components (Glu; glucose, FFA; free fatty acid, BHB; β-hydroxybutyric acid, TP; total protein, ALB; albumin, AST; aspartate aminotransferase, GGT; γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, VA; vitamin A, VE; vitamin E) and milk yield in the transition control (TC) cows and postpartum diseased (PD) cows with ketosis, abomasal displacement, or mastitis. **, *, ^#Denote significant correlation (P<0.01, 0.05, and 0.1, respectively).