HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Roche, J. R. Articles by Boston, R. C. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roche, J. R. Articles by Boston, R. C.

Short Communication: Change in Plasma Ghrelin in Dairy Cows Following an Intravenous Glucose Challenge

J. R. Roche^*,1, A. J. Sheahan^*, L. M. Chagas^* and R. C. Boston

^* DairyNZ, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand
Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104

¹ Corresponding author: john.roche{at}dairynz.co.nz

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and a potent orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) agent in humans and rodents, but little is known about its effect in dairy cows. Ten multiparous dairy cows 35 d in milk were subjected to an i.v. glucose challenge (300 mg of D-glucose/kg of body weight). Before infusion and at regular intervals after infusion, plasma glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), growth hormone, epinephrine, and ghrelin concentrations were monitored. Plasma insulin rose (27.2 mU/L at 10 min) and NEFA, epinephrine, and ghrelin declined (nadir = 0.22 mmol/L, 22.2 µg/L, and 272 µg/L at 31, 13, and 22 min, respectively) after the glucose infusion. Ghrelin declined for 22 min before returning to suprabasal levels at approximately 75 min postinfusion. Sequential changes of the hormones and metabolites suggested a glucose transporter, type 2- and glucose transporter, type 4-mediated disposal of glucose, and an insulin-mediated reduction in NEFA. Ghrelin and epinephrine declined after glucose infusion and before the insulin peak, but the effect of insulin as a controlling factor in the hyperglycemic reduction in these hormones cannot be discounted. The post-nadir surge in ghrelin may be regulated by the decline in circulating concentrations of glucose and NEFA (an energy-deficit signal). The profile of change in plasma ghrelin in lactating dairy cows after a glucose challenge was similar to that in monogastric animals.

Key Words: intake regulation • neuroendocrine factor • glucose challenge • lipolysis