Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:33:56.531Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Metabolic and biochemical changes in plasma of the periparturient rabbit does with different litter size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2014

A. Minuti
Affiliation:
Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze agrarie, alimentari e ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy PRONUTRIGEN – Centro di Ricerca sulla Nutrigenomica e Proteomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
P. Bani
Affiliation:
Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze agrarie, alimentari e ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
F. Piccioli-Cappelli
Affiliation:
Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze agrarie, alimentari e ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
O. Uboldi
Affiliation:
Cargill s.r.l., div CFN società del gruppo Cargill Inc., via Ripamonti 89, 20141 Milano, Italy
N. Bacciu
Affiliation:
Zoetis, 333 Portage Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA
E. Trevisi*
Affiliation:
Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze agrarie, alimentari e ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy PRONUTRIGEN – Centro di Ricerca sulla Nutrigenomica e Proteomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
*
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic and biochemical changes in plasma that occur in the reproductive rabbit doe close to the parturition, as well as if the number of offspring affects the metabolism and the health status of the doe. At −3, 4 and 12 days from parturition (–D3, D4, and D12, respectively) nine rabbit does at their third parity from a commercial hybrid line (HYPLUS PS 19) selected for high prolificacy were weighted and blood was collected for a wide inflammometabolic profile. According to the number of offspring the does were retrospectively divided in two groups: high litter size group (HI; n=5) and low litter size group (LO; n=4). BW was higher (P<0.01) at –D3 and had the lowest values at D4. At D12, the BW was lower (P<0.05) in LO compared with HI. Several metabolites significantly changed from dry to lactation period. Glucose and cholesterol had the lowest levels at –D3; non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and aspartate aminotransferase had the highest values before parturition (P<0.05); creatinine and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) were higher at –D3 with respect to D4 (P<0.05). The lowest value of paraoxonase was observed in does at –D3 (P<0.05), whereas at this time ceruloplasmin and total bilirubin had the highest concentration (P<0.05). The differences for blood profile parameters between does grouped according to litter size were mainly evident before parturition (–D3). In particular, BHBA, NEFA and total bilirubin had higher concentrations (P<0.05) in HI v. LO group, whereas albumin and PON were lower in HI group (P<0.01). After parturition there were no significant differences for the metabolic parameters between the two groups. The results show that for reproductive rabbit doe the last days of gestation are very stressful from a metabolic and inflammatory point of view. The genetic selection of does for higher litter size has increased their ability to mobilize body reserves in order to guarantee the nutrients to a high number of kits. This exposes them to a more severe metabolic and inflammatory challenge during the transition period. Consequently, feeding and managerial strategies for high prolificacy periparturient rabbit does should be revised.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

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

Arias-Alvarez, M, García-García, RM, Rebollar, PG, Revuelta, L, Millán, P and Lorenzo, PL 2009. Influence of metabolic status on oocyte quality and follicular characteristics at different postpartum periods in primiparous rabbit does. Theriogenology 72, 612623.Google Scholar
Bell, AW 1995. Regulation of organic nutrient metabolism during transition from late pregnancy to early lactation. Journal of Animal Science 73, 28042819.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bertoni, G and Trevisi, E 2013. Use of the liver activity index and other metabolic variables in the assessment of metabolic health in dairy herds. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 29, 413431.Google ScholarPubMed
Bertoni, G, Bani, P, Soressi, A and Molinari, A 1994. Plasma creatinine and body condition score behaviour in dry and lactating dairy cows of different genetic merit. Proceedings of the Society of Nutritional Physiology, 25 to 30 September, Willingen, Germany, 265pp.Google Scholar
Bionaz, M, Trevisi, E, Calamari, L, Librandi, F, Ferrari, A and Bertoni, G 2007. Plasma paraoxonase, health, inflammatory conditions, and liver function in transition dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 17401750.Google Scholar
Brecchia, G, Bonanno, A, Galeati, G, Federici, C, Maranesi, M, Gobbetti, A, Zerani, M and Boiti, C 2006. Hormonal and metabolic adaptation to fasting: effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 31, 105122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruss, ML 1997. Lipids and ketones. In Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals (ed. JJ Kaneko, JW Harvey and ML Bruss), pp. 83115. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castellini, CA, Dal Bosco, A, Arias-Álvarez, M, Lorenzo, PL, Cardinali, R and Rebollar, PG 2010. The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: a review. Animal Reproduction Science 122, 174182.Google Scholar
Elsasser, T, Steele, N and Fayer, R 1995. Cytokines, stress and growth modulation. In Cytokines in animal health and disease (ed. MJ Myers and MP Murtaugh), pp. 261290. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Ferré, N, Camps, J, Prats, E, Vilella, E, Paul, A, Figuera, L and Joven, J 2002. Serum paraoxonase activity: a new additional test for the improved evaluation of chronic liver damage. Clinical Chemistry 48, 261268.Google Scholar
García, ML, Argente, MJ, Muelas, R, Birlanga, V and Blasco, A 2012. Effect of divergent selection for residual vairiance of litter size on health status and welfare. Proceedings of the 10th World Rabbit Congress, 3 to 6 September, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, pp. 103–106.Google Scholar
Gilbert, M, Hay, WW, Robert, JR, Johnson, L and Battaglia, FC 1984. Some aspects of maternal metabolism throughout pregnancy in the conscious rabbit. Pediatric Research 18, 854859.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, HSM 1937. Toxemia of pregnancy in the rabbit I. Clinical manifestations and pathology. The Journal of Experimental Medicine 65, 809832.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gruys, E, Toussaint, MJM, Niewold, TA and Koopmans, SJ 2005. Acute phase reaction and acute phase proteins. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B 6, 10451056.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jean-Blain, C and Durix, A 1985. Ketone body metabolism during pregnancy in the rabbit. Reproduction Nutrition and Development 24, 545554.Google Scholar
Ko, HH and Yoshida, EM 2006. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 20, 2530.Google Scholar
Maertens, L, Lebas, F and Szendro, ZS 2006. Rabbit milk: a review of quantity, quality and non-dietary affecting factors. World Rabbit Science 14, 205230.Google Scholar
Martínez-Paredes, E, Ródenas, L, Martínez-Vallespín, B, Cervera, C, Blas, E, Brecchia, G, Boiti, C and Pascual, JJ 2012. Effects of feeding programme on the performance and energy balance of nulliparous rabbit does. Animal 6, 10861095.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mocé, ML, Santacreu, MA, Climent, A and Blasco, A 2004. The effect of divergent selection for uterine capacity on prenatal survival in rabbits: maternal and embryonic genetic effects. Journal of Animal Science 82, 6873.Google Scholar
Özkan, C, Kaya, A and Akgül, Y 2012. Normal values of haematological and some biochemical parameters in serum and urine of New Zealand white rabbits. World Rabbit Science 20, 253259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parigi-Bini, R, Xiccato, G and Cinetto, M 1990. Energy and protein retention and partition in rabbit does during the first pregnancy. Cuni-Sciences 6, 1931.Google Scholar
Pascual, JJ, Xiccato, G and Fortun-Lamothe, L 2006. Strategies for doe’s corporal condition improvement – relationship with litter viability and career length. In Recent advances in rabbit sciences (ed. L Maertens and P Coudert), pp. 247258. ILVO, Merelbeke, Belgium.Google Scholar
Pascual, JJ, Savietto, D, Cervera, C and Baselga, M 2013. Resources allocation in reproductive rabbit does: a review of feeding and genetic strategies for suitable performance. World Rabbit Science 21, 123144.Google Scholar
Quevedo, F, Cervera, C, Blas, E, Baselga, M and Pascual, JJ 2007. Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 2. Lactation and growing period. Animal Science 82, 751762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebollar, PG, Pereda, N, Schwarz, BF, Millán, P, Lorenzo, PL and Nicodemus, N 2011. Effect of feed restriction or feeding high-fibre diet during the rearing period on body composition, serum parameters and productive performance of rabbit does. Animal Feed Science and Technology 163, 6776.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rommers, JM, Meijerhof, R, Noordhuizen, J and Kemp, B 2004. Effect of feeding program during rearing and age at first insemination on performances during subsequent reproduction in young rabbit does. Reproduction Nutrition Development 44, 321332.Google Scholar
Rosell, J and de la Fuente, LF 2009. Culling and mortality in breeding rabbits. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 88, 120127.Google Scholar
Sánchez, JP, de la Fuente, LF and Rosell, JM 2012. Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms. Journal of Animal Science 90, 23532361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savietto, D, Cervera, C, Blas, E, Baselga, M, Larsen, T, Friggens, NC and Pascual, JJ 2013. Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity. Animal 7, 19691977.Google Scholar
Skinner, JG, Brown, RA and Roberts, L 1991. Bovine haptoglobin response in clinically defined field conditions. Veterinary Record 128, 147149.Google Scholar
Soriani, N, Trevisi, E and Calamari, L 2012. Relationships between rumination time, metabolic conditions, and health status in dairy cows during the transition period. Journal of Animal 90, 45444554.Google ScholarPubMed
Sunderman, FW and Nomoto, S 1970. Measurement of human serum ceruloplasmin by its p-phenylenediamine oxidase activity. Clinical Chemistry 16, 903910.Google Scholar
Theilgaard, P, Baselga, M, Blas, E, Friggns, NC, Cervera, C and Pascual, JJ 2009. Differences in productive robustness in rabbits selected for reproductive longevity or litter size. Animal 3, 637646.Google Scholar
Trevisi, E, D’Angelo, A, Gaviraghi, A and Bertoni, G 2005. Blood inflammatory indices in goats around kidding proceedings of the 16th ASPA Congress, 28 to 30 June 2005, Torino, Italy, 404pp.Google Scholar
Xiccato, G 1996. Nutrition of lactating does. Proceedings of the 6th World Rabbit Congress, Toulouse, France, pp. 29–47.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Minuti Supplementary Material

Table S1

Download Minuti Supplementary Material(File)
File 15.6 KB
Supplementary material: File

Minuti Supplementary Material

Table S2

Download Minuti Supplementary Material(File)
File 25.5 KB