Interrelation of Fatty Acid Composition in Adipose Tissue, Serum, and Liver of Dairy Cows During the Development of Fatty Liver Postpartum

¹ Department of Large Animal Medicine and Nutrition, Graduate School of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
² Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Graduate School of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
³ Department of Reproduction, Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-DLO) 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands

We investigated the composition of fatty acids in adipose tissue, serum, and liver of cows that were fed at restricted energy intake or were overfed during the dry period. Overfed cows had higher concentrations of serum nonesterified fatty acids and consequently accumulated greater amounts of triacylglycerols in the liver than did cows that were fed at restricted energy intake. The percentages of the different fatty acids present in adipose tissue were similar for both groups and did not change during sampling intervals. Before parturition, concentrations of the individual fatty acids present in serum were similar between groups. After parturition, concentrations of major fatty acids in serum, including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids significantly increased in both groups and were higher in overfed cows than in cows that were fed at restricted energy intake. The shift of concentrations of the different fatty acids present in the liver—as a result of increased lipolysis—was observed in palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids but not stearic acid, suggesting that stearic acid is used by the liver (i.e., oxidation) or is considerably secreted through the milk, thereby not increasing in accumulation in the liver. In conclusion, different feeding regimens during the dry period do not influence the composition of fatty acids in adipose tissue. More intensive lipolysis results in increased concentrations of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids in the blood; subsequently, these fatty acids, excluding stearic acid, greatly accumulated in the liver.

Key Words: dairy cows • fatty acids • fatty liver • adipose tissue

Submitted on January 25, 1999
Accepted on August 27, 1999

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