Bone turnover markers in sheep and goat: a review of the scientific literature

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) are product of bone cell activity and are generally divided in bone formation and bone resorption markers. The purpose of this review was to structure the available information on the use of BTMs in studies on small ruminants, especially for monitoring their variations related to diet, exercise, gestation and metabolic lactation state, circadian and seasonal variations, and also during skeletal growth. Pre-clinical and translational studies using BTMs with sheep and goats as animal models in orthopaedic research studies to help in the evaluation of the fracture healing process and osteoporosis research are also described in this review. The available information from the reviewed studies was systematically organized in order to highlight the most promising BTMs in small ruminant research, as well as provide a wide view of the use of sheep and goat as animal models in orthopaedic research, type of markers and commercial assay kits with cross-reactivity in sheep and goat, method of sample and storage of serum and urine for bone turnover markers determination and the usefulness and limitations of bone turnover markers in the different studies, therefore an effective tool for researchers that seek answers to different questions while using BTMs in small ruminants.José Arthur de A. Camassa acknowledges to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil, for his PhD scholarship 202248/2015-1.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Developmental programming: the role of growth hormone

Developmental programming of the fetus has consequences for physiologic responses in the offspring as an adult and, more recently, is implicated in the expression of altered phenotypes of future generations. Some phenotypes, such as fertility, bone strength, and adiposity are highly relevant to food animal production and in utero factors that impinge on those traits are vital to understand. A key systemic regulatory hormone is growth hormone (GH), which has a developmental role in virtually all tissues and organs. This review catalogs the impact of GH on tissue programming and how perturbations early in development influence GH function

Influence of dexamethasone and alpha-ketoglutarate administration to pregnant sows on the level of some hormones in the blood plasma of newborn un-suckled piglets

The aim of the study was to establish the influence of dexamethasone and alpha-ketoglutarate administration to pregnant sows on the prenatal programming of the growth hormone level, cortisol, insulin and IGF-I in the blood serum of newborn piglets assessed just after their birth and prior to suckling. The foetal development is dependent on and determined by hormones such as glucocorticoids as well as nutrient supply through the sow, especially from the digestive tract. All these factors determine pre- and neonatal growth. The experiment was conducted over the final 24 days of pregnancy in sows treated i.m. with dexamethasone at a dose of 3 mg per sow every second day or alpha-ketoglutarate administered orally daily at a dose of 0.4 g/kg b.w. The blood samples were collected from the subclavian vein of un-suckled piglets immediately following their birth and were centrifuged straight away and the serum stored at -25 degrees C until further analysis. Hormone concentrations were determined using ELISA kit. The obtained results indicate that maternal administration of dexamethasone increased the level of cortisol while alpha-ketoglutarate increased the levels of cortisol and IGF I whereas simultaneous administration of dexamethasone and AKG significantly increased the growth hormone. These results of separate or simultaneous maternal administration of dexamethasone and alpha-ketogluta rate during the last 24 days of pregnancy indicated the activation of different mechanisms and different prenatal effects on the levels of cortisol, growth hormone and IGF I in serum assessed immediately following the birth of the piglets

Influence of alpha-ketoglutarate on cortical bone density, geometrical properties and mechanical endurance of the humerus in turkeys

The aim of this study was to estimate an influence of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on volumetric bone density and geometrical and mechanical properties of the humerus in farm turkeys. All birds were kept under standard rearing conditions with constant access to water and appropriate feed, supplied in accordance with the stage of production cycle. Bone samples were collected 14 weeks after beginning of the experiment. To the first group belonged the control turkeys. The second group of animals consisted of turkeys that were treated with AKG from the 22(nd) to 110(th) d of life. Using Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) method, volumetric bone density of the cortical bone in the humerus was estimated. Both the mechanical and geometrical properties of the bone were assessed according to Ferretti method. The obtained results showed anabolic influence of enteral AKG administration on cortical bone density, geometrical properties and mechanical endurance of the humerus. Moreover, the humerus in turkey may be utilised as a model of cortical bone for further investigations of factors conditioning skeletal homeostasis

Influence of alpha-ketoglutarate on bone mineral density of the femur in piglets

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of daily oral administration of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on bone mineral density of the femur and concentration of 17-beta-oestradiol in blood plasma during 70 d of postnatal life in piglets. All the animals were kept under standard rearing conditions. AKG was administered orally from the 1(st) d of life, while the control piglets were treated in the same way and time with physiological saline. The experimental and control groups were assigned to 6 age subgroups: 3, 14, 21, 35, 56 and 70 d of life. The animals from both groups were euthanised, then bone samples were collected and frozen at -25 degrees C until further analyses. Using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA method) bone mineral density of the femora was estimated. Additionally, 17-beta-oestradiol concentration in blood plasma was assayed using RIA-test. The obtained results indicate positive influence of enteral AKG administration on bone mineral density of the femur in piglets. Moreover, AKG increased the level of 17-beta-oestradiol in blood plasma in post-weaned piglets

Effect of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on mineralisation, morphology and mechanical endurance of femur and tibia in turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on volumetric bone density, geometrical and mechanical properties of femur and tibia in farm turkeys. All animals were kept under standard rearing conditions with constant access to water and appropriate feed, supplied in accordance with the stage of production cycle. Bone samples were collected 14 weeks after beginning of the experiment. To the first group belonged control turkeys. The second group of animals consisted of turkeys that were administered AKG from the 22(nd) to 110(th) d of life. Using Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) method, volumetric bone density of femur and tibia were estimated for trabecular and cortical bone. Both the mechanical and geometrical properties of femur and tibia were assessed according to Ferretti's method. The obtained results indicate positive influence of enteral AKG administration on skeletal system quality in turkeys