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Animals
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New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology
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New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Cattle".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2021) | Viewed by 10511

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amy Skibiel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
Interests: mammary and lactation physiology; environmental physiology; developmental programming; metabolism
Dr. Jimena Laporta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Interests: mammary and lactation physiology; environmental physiology; lactation endocrinology; mammary development; fetal programming

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A major goal of dairy producers is to optimize the lactation performance of cows while minimizing the risk of developing metabolic and health disorders. A thorough understanding of mammary gland and lactation physiology and the epigenetic, genetic, and environmental signals that regulate the local and systemic physiological processes that enable milk synthesis and secretion is central to this goal. Further advances in these areas will continue to improve cattle performance and health and inform best management practices, particularly in the face of global environmental changes and elevated demand for dairy products.

This Special Issue seeks to publish original research articles or reviews related to advances in mammary gland and lactation physiology to highlight new knowledge and to stimulate and direct future research efforts. Topic areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, mammary growth, development, and involution; physiological adaptations to lactation; milk synthesis and milk composition; environmental modulation of lactation; and endocrinology of lactation. Manuscripts may focus on any level of biological organization (e.g. molecular, cellular, whole-animal).  

Dr. Amy Skibiel
Dr. Jimena Laporta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mammary gland
  • mammary development
  • milk production
  • milk composition
  • metabolism
  • global climate change
  • genetics
  • epigenetics
  • neuroendocrinology
  • bovine

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1279 KiB  
Article
Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation Alters the Abundance of Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin and Insulin Signaling Proteins in Subcutaneous Adipose Explants from Lactating Holstein Cows
by Yusheng Liang, Fabiana F. Cardoso, Claudia Parys, Felipe C. Cardoso and Juan J. Loor
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2714; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092714 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2167
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate changes in protein abundance of mTOR and insulin signaling pathway components along with amino acid (AA) transporters in bovine s.c. adipose (SAT) explants in response to increased supply of Leu, Ile, or Val. Explants of [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to investigate changes in protein abundance of mTOR and insulin signaling pathway components along with amino acid (AA) transporters in bovine s.c. adipose (SAT) explants in response to increased supply of Leu, Ile, or Val. Explants of SAT from four lactating Holstein cows were incubated with high-glucose serum-free DMEM, to which the 10 essential AAs were added to create the following treatments: ideal mix of essential AA (IPAA; Lys:Met 2.9:1; Lys:Thr 1.8:1; Lys:His 2.38:1; Lys:Val 1.23:1; Lys:Ile 1.45:1; Lys:Leu 0.85:1; Lys:Arg 2.08:1) or IPAA supplemented with Ile, Val, or Leu to achieve a Lys:Ile of 1.29:1 (incIle), Lys:Val 1.12:1 (incVal), or Lys:Leu (incLeu) 0.78:1 for 4 h. Compared with IPAA, incLeu or incIle led to greater activation of protein kinase B (AKT; p-AKT/total AKT) and mTOR (p-mTOR/total mTOR). Total EAA in media averaged 7.8 ± 0.06 mmol/L across treatments. Incubation with incLeu, incIle, or incVal led to greater protein abundance of solute carrier family 38 member 1 (SLC38A1), a Gln transporter, and the BCAA catabolism enzyme branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) compared with IPAA. Activation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2; p-eEF2/total eEF2) was also greater in response to incLeu, incIle, or incVal. Furthermore, compared with incLeu or incIle, incVal supplementation led to greater abundance of SLC38A1 and BCKDK. BCKDK is a rate-limiting enzyme regulating BCAA catabolism via inactivation and phosphorylation of the BCKD complex. Overall, data suggested that enhanced individual supplementation of BCAA activates mTOR and insulin signaling in SAT. Increased AA transport into tissue and lower BCAA catabolism could be part of the mechanism driving these responses. The potential practical applications for enhancing post-ruminal supply of BCAA via feeding in rumen-protected form support in vivo studies to ascertain the role of these AAs on adipose tissue biology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology)
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15 pages, 1693 KiB  
Article
Dry Period Heat Stress Impacts Mammary Protein Metabolism in the Subsequent Lactation
by Bethany Dado-Senn, Amy L. Skibiel, Geoffrey E. Dahl, Sebastian I. Arriola Apelo and Jimena Laporta
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2676; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092676 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2484
Abstract
Dry period heat stress impairs subsequent milk production, but its impact on milk protein content and yield is inconsistent. We hypothesize that dairy cow exposure to dry period heat stress will reduce milk protein synthesis in the next lactation, potentially through modified amino [...] Read more.
Dry period heat stress impairs subsequent milk production, but its impact on milk protein content and yield is inconsistent. We hypothesize that dairy cow exposure to dry period heat stress will reduce milk protein synthesis in the next lactation, potentially through modified amino acid (AA) transport and compromised mTOR signaling in the mammary gland. Cows were enrolled into heat-stressed (dry-HT, n = 12) or cooled (dry-CL, n = 12) treatments for a 46-day dry period then cooled after calving. Milk yield and composition and dry matter intake were recorded, and milk, blood, and mammary tissue samples were collected at 14, 42, and 84 days in milk (DIM) to determine free AA concentrations, milk protein fractions, and mammary AA transporter and mTOR pathway gene and protein expression. Dry matter intake did not significantly differ between treatments pre- or postpartum. Compared with dry-CL cows, milk yield was decreased (32.3 vs. 37.7 ± 1.6 kg/day) and milk protein yield and content were reduced in dry-HT cows by 0.18 kg/day and 0.1%. Further, dry-HT cows had higher plasma concentrations of glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and taurine. Gene expression of key AA transporters was upregulated at 14 and 42 DIM in dry-HT cows. Despite minor changes in mTOR pathway gene expression, the protein 4E-BP1 was upregulated in dry-HT cows at 42 DIM whereas Akt and p70 S6K1 were downregulated. These results indicate major mammary metabolic adaptations during lactation after prior exposure to dry period heat stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology)
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17 pages, 1576 KiB  
Article
Mitochondrial Bioenergetics of Extramammary Tissues in Lactating Dairy Cattle
by Victoria Favorit, Wendy R. Hood, Andreas N. Kavazis, Patricia Villamediana, Kang Nian Yap, Hailey A. Parry and Amy L. Skibiel
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092647 - 9 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Lactation is physiologically demanding, requiring increased nutrient and energy use. Mammary and extramammary tissues undergo metabolic changes for lactation. Although it has long been recognized that mitochondria play a critical role in lactation, the mitochondrial adaptations for milk synthesis in supporting tissues, such [...] Read more.
Lactation is physiologically demanding, requiring increased nutrient and energy use. Mammary and extramammary tissues undergo metabolic changes for lactation. Although it has long been recognized that mitochondria play a critical role in lactation, the mitochondrial adaptations for milk synthesis in supporting tissues, such as liver and skeletal muscle are relatively understudied. In this study, we assessed the mitochondrial function in these tissues across lactation in dairy cattle. Tissue biopsies were taken at 8 ± 2 d (early, n = 11), 75 ± 4 d (peak, n = 11) and 199 ± 6 d (late, n = 11) in milk. Early lactation biopsies were harvested from one group of cows and the peak and late biopsies from a second cohort. Milk yield (MY) was recorded at each milking and milk samples were collected for composition analysis. Mitochondrial efficiency was quantified as the respiratory control ratio (RCR), comparing maximal to resting respiration rates. Liver complex II RCR was positively associated with MY. Liver ROS emission increased across lactation whereas liver antioxidant activity was similar across lactation. No change was detected in skeletal muscle RCR or ROS emission, but muscle GPx activity decreased across lactation and muscle SOD was negatively associated with MY. Muscle oxidative damage was elevated at early and late lactation. Across lactation, genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis were upregulated in the liver. Our results indicate that during lactation, liver mitochondrial biogenesis and efficiency are increased, which is associated with greater milk yield. In contrast, the mitochondrial efficiency in skeletal muscle remains consistent across lactation, but undergoes oxidative damage, which is associated with reduced antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology)
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17 pages, 1797 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Combinations of Dietary Vitamin A, Protein Levels, and Monensin on Inflammatory Markers and Metabolites, Retinol-Binding Protein, and Retinoid Status in Periparturient Dairy Cows
by Bruna C. Agustinho, Kirk C. Ramsey, Chel Moore, Chia-Yu Tsai, Cynthia M. Scholte, Mark A. McGuire and Pedram Rezamand
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092605 - 5 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2389
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding different combinations of dietary vitamin A supplementation (0 or 110 IU/kg body weight), protein (10.3% or 12.2%), and an ionophore (monensin at 0 or 400 mg/day) on retinoid metabolism and immune [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding different combinations of dietary vitamin A supplementation (0 or 110 IU/kg body weight), protein (10.3% or 12.2%), and an ionophore (monensin at 0 or 400 mg/day) on retinoid metabolism and immune function of dairy cows. Eighty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were studied from d −35 to +21 relative to expected parturition in a complete randomized block design with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The significance of treatments was declared at p ≤ 0.05. Dairy cows receiving high crude protein (CP) diets with monensin had a greater retinol-binding protein serum concentration than cows receiving high CP diets without monensin (p = 0.04). Animals supplemented with vitamin A showed lower SCC (p = 0.04) and a higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration (p = 0.06) than cows non-supplemented. Moreover, cows receiving low crude protein diets had a greater haptoglobin concentration (p = 0.01). In addition, cows fed a high crude protein diet had a greater TNF-α expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p = 0.04). Animals fed diets without monensin had a greater serum haptoglobin on day 3 postpartum than those fed monensin (p = 0.01). Moreover, dietary vitamin A increased serum 13-cis retinoic acid postpartum. We conclude that vitamin A, crude protein levels, and monensin fed during the close-up period affect milk somatic cell count, some vitamin statuses, and inflammatory markers during early lactation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Dairy Cow Lactation Physiology)
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