Changes of Adipose Tissue Morphology and Composition during Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation in Dairy Cows

Dairy cows mobilize large amounts of body fat during early lactation to overcome negative energy balance which typically arises in this period. As an adaptation process, adipose tissues of cows undergo extensive remodeling during late pregnancy and early lactation. The objective of the present study was to characterize this remodeling to get a better understanding of adaptation processes in adipose tissues, affected by changing metabolic conditions including lipid mobilization and refilling as a function of energy status. This was done by determining adipocyte size in histological sections of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue biopsy samples collected from German Holstein cows at 42 days prepartum, and 1, 21, and 100 days postpartum. Characterization of cell size changes was extended by the analysis of DNA, triacylglycerol, and protein content per gram tissue, and beta-actin protein expression in the same samples. In both adipose tissue depots cell size was becoming smaller during the course of the study, suggesting a decrease in cellular triacylglycerol content. Results of DNA, triacylglycerol, and protein content, and beta-actin protein expression could only partially explain the observed differences in cell size. The retroperitoneal adipose tissue exhibited a greater extent of time-related differences in cell size, DNA, and protein content, suggesting greater dynamics and metabolic flexibility for this abdominal depot compared to the investigated subcutaneous depot

Changes of Adipose Tissue Morphology and Composition during Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation in Dairy Cows

Dairy cows mobilize large amounts of body fat during early lactation to overcome negative energy balance which typically arises in this period. As an adaptation process, adipose tissues of cows undergo extensive remodeling during late pregnancy and early lactation. The objective of the present study was to characterize this remodeling to get a better understanding of adaptation processes in adipose tissues, affected by changing metabolic conditions including lipid mobilization and refilling as a function of energy status. This was done by determining adipocyte size in histological sections of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue biopsy samples collected from German Holstein cows at 42 days prepartum, and 1, 21, and 100 days postpartum. Characterization of cell size changes was extended by the analysis of DNA, triacylglycerol, and protein content per gram tissue, and beta-actin protein expression in the same samples. In both adipose tissue depots cell size was becoming smaller during the course of the study, suggesting a decrease in cellular triacylglycerol content. Results of DNA, triacylglycerol, and protein content, and beta-actin protein expression could only partially explain the observed differences in cell size. The retroperitoneal adipose tissue exhibited a greater extent of time-related differences in cell size, DNA, and protein content, suggesting greater dynamics and metabolic flexibility for this abdominal depot compared to the investigated subcutaneous depot

In vitro assessment of antifungal and antistaphylococcal activities of Cinnamomum aromaticum essential oil against subclinical mastitis pathogens

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of Cinnamomum aromaticum essential oil against bacteria and yeasts isolated from the cows with subclinical mastitis. The broth microdilution method was employed to determine the antibacterial and the antifungal activities against 7 yeasts (Candida albicans, Candida lambica, Candida tropicalis, Candida zeylanoides, Cryptococcus albidus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Rhodotorula glutinis) and 10 Staphylococcus spp. strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes and Staphylococcus xylosus) with different antibiotic resistance profile isolated from the cows with subclinical mastitis. The results showed that the tested essential oil exhibited a satisfactory antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration value in the concentration of 0.625 μl/ml, and against all tested fungi in the concentration range of 0.625 μl/ml to 2.5 μl/ml. The minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged between 2.5 μl/ml and 10 μl/ml, and minimum fungicidal concentration values were in the range of concentration from 2.5 μl/ml to 10 μl/ml. This study revealed that Cinnamomum aromaticum essential oil exhibited strong antibacterial and antifungal activities, and it may be indicated as an alternative solution to minimize the risk of fungal mastitis, especially for the treatment of subclinical staphylococcal mastitis during lactation and the dry-off period. Keywords: Mycotic mastitis, Staphylococcal mastitis, Cinnamomum aromaticum essential oil, minimum inhibition concentratio

Cell size in subcutaneous (SCAT) and retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT) samples of dairy cows around parturition.

<p><b>(A)</b> The median of the measured cell size values was assigned to each sample, and plotted to visualize time-related and depot-related variation. Different superscripts indicate P < 0.05. <b>(B-C)</b> Relative frequency distribution of measured cell size values at 42 days prepartum (d-42), and at 1 day (d+1), 21 days (d+21), and 100 days (d+100) postpartum in <b>(B)</b> SCAT and in <b>(C)</b> RPAT. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Means ± SEM, n = 13.</p

Composition of subcutaneous (SCAT) and retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT) samples of dairy cows around parturition.

<p><b>(A)</b> DNA content, <b>(B)</b> triacylglycerol (TAG) content, <b>(C)</b> total protein content, and <b>(D)</b> β-actin protein expression at 42 days prepartum (d-42), and at 1 day (d+1), 21 days (d+21), and 100 days (d+100) postpartum. Different superscripts indicate P < 0.05. Means ± SEM, n = 20.</p

Body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows corresponding to biopsy samplings.

<p>Body condition score was significantly affected by the time related to parturition (P < 0.01, ANOVA with repeated measures).</p><p>¹Related to parturition</p><p>²Mean ± SEM (n = 20)</p><p>^a,bP = 0.001 (Tukey’s post-test)</p><p>Body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows corresponding to biopsy samplings.</p