Intramammary Infusion of Insulin or Long R³ Insulin-like Growth Factor-I did not Increase Milk Protein Yield in Dairy Cows

¹ Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4801

Two experiments investigated the regulation of milk protein synthesis in well-fed cows (n = 4) using 1) a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and 2) intramammary infusion of insulin or long R³ insulin-like growth factor-I plus supplementary amino acids. In experiment 1, insulin was infused at 1.0 µg · kg BW^–1 · h^–1 to increase circulating levels fourfold, and euglycemia was maintained by infusion of glucose. An insulin clamp increased the yields of casein and whey protein both with and without supplementary amino acids. Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I were increased and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 decreased during insulin clamp, while both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I in milk were elevated by this treatment. Milk concentrations of insulin peaked on day 4, but insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations in milk peaked on day 1 of the insulin clamp. In experiment 2, intramammary infusion of insulin had no effects on any measured variables, while yields of milk, protein, and fat were slightly lower following long R³ insulin-like growth factor-I treatment. This could be associated with an increase in somatic cell count, which occurred following long R³ insulin-like growth factor-I treatment. Results from experiment 1 suggest insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I are likely candidates responsible for the increased milk protein yields during the insulin clamp. However, in experiment 2 neither hormone enhanced milk protein yield when administered using an intramammary technique.

Key Words: milk • protein • insulin • IGF-I

Submitted on October 12, 1999
Accepted on February 10, 2000

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