Immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I and insulin in blood plasma and milk of mares and in blood plasma of foals.
Abstract: Concentration of (total) globulin was relatively stable in blood plasma of mares, but rapidly decreased in colostrum to very low levels within 2 days after parturition. In foals, after intake of the first colostrum, globulin increased within 1 day in blood plasma, but remained at lower concentrations than those measured in mare plasma. Concentrations of immunoreactive insulin (iI) were high during the first 2 months of lactation in blood plasma of mares and then decreased, were high in first colostrum and then decreased drastically, and remained at low concentrations up to weaning in blood of foals. In mares, concentration of immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I (iIGF-I) in plasma increased during late pregnancy, peaked 2 days after parturition, and then gradually declined until weaning. iIGF-I was highest in first colostrum and then dramatically decreased within the first 2 days of lactation. In foals, iIGF-I gradually increased over the first 2 months of life. IGF-I in the horse appears to be bound to proteins of similar molecular weight as in cattle. The study demonstrates different patterns of changes in plasma iIGF-I and iI concentrations in mares and their foals, whereas iI, iIGF-I and globulin changes in colostrum and milk occurred in parallel. Furthermore, plasma iI and iIGF-I behaved differently, while colostrum iI and iIGF-I behaved similarly, in mares compared with dairy cows.
Publication Date: 1994-03-01 PubMed ID: 8575376DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04352.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the levels of immunoreactive insulin (iI) and insulin-like growth factor I (iIGF-I) in blood plasma and milk of mares, as well as in the blood plasma of foals. It shows that the concentrations of these substances vary with different stages of lactation, pregnancy, and foal growth, and their patterns differ in mares and foals as well as when compared to dairy cows.
Change in Globulin, iI, and iIGF-I Levels
- The study touched on the transition and change in levels of globulin, iI and iIGF-I in the blood plasma of mares and foals and in the colostrum – the first form of milk produced after giving birth. It revealed that globulin levels remained relatively steady in mares’ blood plasma, but rapidly declined to very low levels in colostrum within 2 days after parturition (giving birth).
- In foals, there was a noticeable increase in globulin levels in the blood plasma after consuming the first colostrum, however, they remained at lower levels compared to the concentrations in mares’ plasma.
Patterns of iI and iIGF-I Concentrations in Mares and Foals
- The iI concentrations were found to be high during the initial 2 months of lactation in mares’ blood plasma, then underwent a decrement. The concentration was similarly high in first colostrum and then experienced a drastic drop in later stages. The iI concentration in foals’ blood remained at low levels up to weaning, the process of gradually eliminating mother’s milk from the young animal’s diet.
- In regard to iIGF-I, its concentration heightened during late pregnancy in mares, reached a peak 2 days post-parturition, and then steadily declined until weaning. Similar to iI, the concentration was highest in first colostrum and then markedly decreased in the first 2 days of lactation. In foals, iIGF-I slowly increased during the first 2 months of life.
Comparison with Dairy Cows and Protein Binding
- The study displayed that IGF-I in horses seems to bind to proteins of similar molecular weight as in cattle. There were different patterns observed in plasma iIGF-I and iI concentrations in mares and their foals. The behavior of iI, iIGF-I and globulin changes in colostrum and milk occurred simultaneously. The behavior of plasma iI and iIGF-I showed variation, while colostrum iI and iIGF-I behavior was similar in mares when compared to dairy cows.
Cite This Article
APA
Hess-Dudan F, Vacher PY, Bruckmaier RM, Weishaupt MA, Burger D, Blum JW.
(1994).
Immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I and insulin in blood plasma and milk of mares and in blood plasma of foals.
Equine Vet J, 26(2), 134-139.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04352.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Breeding, University of Berne, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Animals, Newborn / metabolism
- Colostrum / chemistry
- Female
- Globulins / analysis
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Insulin / analysis
- Insulin / blood
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis
- Iodine Radioisotopes
- Male
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk / metabolism
- Pregnancy
- Radioimmunoassay
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Peugnet P, Wimel L, Duchamp G, Sandersen C, Camous S, Guillaume D, Dahirel M, Dubois C, Jouneau L, Reigner F, Berthelot V, Chaffaux S, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Enhanced or reduced fetal growth induced by embryo transfer into smaller or larger breeds alters post-natal growth and metabolism in pre-weaning horses. PLoS One 2014;9(7):e102044.
- Prosser CG. Insulin-like growth factors in milk and mammary gland. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 1996 Jul;1(3):297-306.
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