Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T05:42:54.419Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Secretion pattern of growth hormone, prolactin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in the periparturient sow depending on the metabolic state during lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

W. D. Kraetz ,
C. Zimmer ,
D. Schneider  and
D. Schams
W. D. Kraetz
Affiliation:
Institute of Physiology, Research Centre for Milk and Food, Technical University Munich, D-85350 Freising Weihenstephan, Germany
C. Zimmer
Affiliation:
Institute of Physiology, Research Centre for Milk and Food, Technical University Munich, D-85350 Freising Weihenstephan, Germany
D. Schneider
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Free University, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
D. Schams
Affiliation:
Institute of Physiology, Research Centre for Milk and Food, Technical University Munich, D-85350 Freising Weihenstephan, Germany
Get access

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of different energy levels during a 4-week lactation on the regulation of the metabolic hormones somatotropin (GH), prolactin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). A total of 21 crossbred sows (German Landrace × Duroc) were cannulated for daily blood collection from 3 weeks before parturition until 2 weeks after weaning and for weekly window sampling (every 20 min for 10 h). Nineteen sows were given 2·8 kg food during late gestation, 5·0 kg food during lactation and 2·8 kg food per day after weaning and two sows were given food at a restricted level (3·0 kg) during lactation. In the 19 sows, the different energy balance was induced by allocation of different numbers of sucking piglets to the respective sows. One group of sows suckled seven piglets and served as a control (C; no. = 7) and another group suckled 10 to 12 piglets and was energy deficient (D). After the study, the sows of the deficient group were, based on their litter weight gain from parturition until weaning, divided into low (D-L; no. = 6) or high (D-H; no. = 6) litter weight gain. The D-H sows lost more body weight during lactation than C and had lower glucose and higher nonesterified fatty acids levels before morning feeding. GH and prolactin increased around parturition and their secretory profiles during lactation were altered by the frequent sucking stimulus, whereby the access of the piglets to their dams was not controlled. During lactation, GH and prolactin were highest in D-H sows. The results suggest a possible role of not only GH but also of prolactin in nutrient partitioning to the mammary gland just before the start of lactation and for minimizing the adverse effects of a negative energy balance. Furthermore, insulin and IGF-1 increased around parturition in all sows. Insulin was higher before and after feeding and the highest levels were found in C and D-L sows. The regulation patterns of insulin and IGF-1 indicate that the lactating sow is able to mobilize enough energy from body reserves to prevent metabolic disorders, even during a period with deficient energy supply. This is contrary to the regulation in the dairy cow, where the negative energy balance is coupled with a severe glucose deficit during phases of high milk yield, which causes decreased levels of insulin and IGF-1. In the sow, the glucose intake with the food meets the glucose requirement for metabolic pathways also during a deficient lactational energy intake. Therefore, in sows IGF-1 can be stimulated by increased GH levels via the GH receptor in the liver during a state of nutritional energy deficiency and the fact that sows can compensate a deficient metabolic state much better than cows is also reflected in the respective endocrinology.

Keywords

metabolismhormoneslactationsomatomedinsows
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 67 , Issue 2 , October 1998 , pp. 339 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Algers, B., Madey, A., Rojanasthien, S. and UvnäsMoberg, K. 1991. Quantitative relationships between suckling-induced teat stimulation and the release of prolactin, gastrin, somatostatin, insulin, glucagon and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in sows. Veterinary Research Communications 15: 395–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baidoo, S. K., Aherne, F. X., Kirkwood, R. N. and Foxcroft, G. R. 1992a. Effect of feed intake during lactation and after weaning on sow reproductive performance. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 72: 911–917.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baidoo, S. K., Lythgoe, E. S., Kirkwood, R. N., Aherne, F. X. and Foxcroft, G. R. 1992b. Effect of lactation feed intake on endocrine status and metabolite levels in sows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 72: 799–807.Google Scholar
Brameld, J. M., Atkinson, J. L., Saunders, J. C., Pell, J. M., Buttery, P. J. and Gilmour, R. S. 1996. Effects of growth hormone administration and dietary protein intake on insulin-like growth factor 1 and growth hormone receptor mRNA expression in porcine liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Journal of Animal Science 74: 1832–1841.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Einarsson, S. and Rojikittikhun, T. 1993. Effects of nutrition on pregnant and lactating sows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 48: 229–239.Google ScholarPubMed
Hossner, K. L., McCusker, R. H. and Dodson, M. V. 1997. Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins in domestic animals. Animal Science 64: 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, R. H. 1987. Nutritional anoestrus in young sows. Pig News and Information 8: 15–22.Google Scholar
King, R. H. and Dunkin, A. C. 1986. The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows. 4. The relative effects of energy and protein intakes during lactation on the performance of sows and their piglets. Animal Production 43: 319–325.Google Scholar
King, R. H. and Williams, I. H. 1984. The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows. 2. Protein and energy intakes during lactation. Animal Production 38: 249–256.Google Scholar
Kraetzl, W. D. and Weiler, U. 1998. Erfahrungen mit einem implantierbaren Kathetersystem zur frequenten und chronischen Blutentnahme bei Schafen in Gruppenhaltung und bei saugenden Sauen. Tierärztliche Umschau In press.Google Scholar
Rojikittikhun, T., Einarsson, S., Uvnas-Moberg, K. and Edqvist, L. E. 1993. Body weight loss during lactation in relation to energy and protein metabolism in standard-fed primiparous sows. Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Series A 40: 249–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schams, D., Graf, F., Graule, B., Abele, M. and Prokopp, S. 1991. Hormonal changes during lactation in cows of three different breeds. Livestock Production Science 27: 285–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schams, D., Kraetzl, W. D., Brem, G. and Graf, F. 1994. Secretory pattern of metabolic hormones in the lactating sow. Expimental and Clinical Endocrinology 102: 439–447.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tokach, M. D., Pettigrew, J. E., Dial, G. D., Wheaton, J. E., Crooker, B. A. and Johnston, L. J. 1992a. Characterization of luteinizing hormone secretion in the primiparous, lactating sow: relationship to blood metabolites and returnto-estrus interval. Journal of Animal Science 70: 2195–2201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tokach, M. D., Pettigrew, J. E., Dial, G. D., Wheaton, J. E., Crooker, B. A. and Koketsu, Y. 1992b. Influence of glucose infusion on luteinizing hormone secretion in the energy restricted, primiparous, lactating sow. Journal of Animal Science 70: 2202–2206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vasilatos-Younken, R., Dunnington, E. A., Siegel, P. B. and McMurtry, J. P. 1997. Tissue-specific alterations in insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations in response to 3,3', 5-triiodo-L-thyronine supplementation in the growth hormone-deficient sex-linked dwarf chicken. General and Comparative Endocrinology 105: 31–39.Google Scholar
Vicini, J. L., Buonomo, F. C., Veenhuizen, J. J., Miller, M. A., Clemmons, D. R. and Collier, R. J. 1991. Nutrient balance and stage of lactation affect responses of insulin, insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 to somatotropin administration in dairy cows. Journal of Nutrition 121: 1656–1664.Google Scholar