ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to determine the association between mild fatty liver and β-carotene (BC), retinol (ROL), and a-tocopherol (AT) status. Multiparous Holstein cows were defined as having mild fatty liver using a threshold of 2% liver triacylglycerol (TAG, wet basis) at day (d) 2 after calving. Cows with mild fatty liver decreased dry matter intake (DMI) as a % of body weight (BW) from calving to 5th week (wk) of lactation (3.47 vs. 3.99, P = 0.02) and increased plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration (345.0 vs. 266.0 µeq/dL, P = 0.10) as compared to normal cows. Fatty liver tended to lower plasma ROL (0.20 vs. 0.23 µg/mL, P = 0.10), but had no effect on plasma BC, plasma AT, liver BC, and liver ROL (P > 0.12) concentrations. However, depression in liver BC at calving was very small (8.0 vs. 68.0%) for fatty liver than for normal cows. Liver AT concentrations were greater (5.5 vs. 4.0 µg/g, P = 0.06) for cows with more than 2% liver TAG concentration. Concentration of plasma NEFA was positively correlated with plasma BC concentrations (r = 0.18, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with concentrations of plasma ROL (r = -0.36, P < 0.0001) or AT (r = -0.35, P < 0.0001). A positive direct relationship between DMI and plasma vitamins status was found to exist only for ROL and AT, which suggests that stores of ROL or AT are less labile than stores for BC. At different times from calving, liver BC concentrations were positively correlated with liver TAG concentrations in a consistent manner but, correlations among liver ROL or liver AT concentrations and liver TAG concentrations were nonsignificants. The results suggest that the regulatory role of the liver in maintaining retinol concentrations in plasma may be compromise in cows with fatty liver.
Este estudio fue realizado con los objetivos de determinar la asociación entre hígado graso leve (HGL) y estatus de β-caroteno (BC), retinol (ROL) y a-tocoferol (AT). Para definir HGL en vacas Holstein multíparas se empleó como valor crítico el 2% de triacilgliceroles (TAG, base fresca) en el hígado al segundo día después del parto. El consumo de materia seca (CMS), como porcentaje del peso vivo, disminuyó (3,47 vs. 3,99; P = 0,02) mientras que la concentración de ácidos grasos no-esterificados (AGNE) incrementó (345,0 vs. 266,0 µeq/dL; P = 0,10), desde el parto hasta la 5ta semana de lactancia en las vacas con HGL en comparación con las vacas control. El hígado graso tuvo la tendencia a disminuir el ROL plasmático (0,20 vs. 0,23 µg/mL, P = 0,10), pero no afectó las concentraciones de BC y AT en plasma, ni las de BC y ROL hepático (P > 0,12). Sin embargo, en el parto, la caída del BC hepático fue muy pequeña (8,0 vs. 68,0%) en las vacas con HGL. Las concentraciones de AT hepático fueron mayores (5,5 vs. 4,0 µg/g, P = 0,06) en las vacas con más de 2% de TAG hepático. La concentración plasmática de AGNE tuvo una correlación positiva con las concentraciones plasmáticas de BC (r = 0,18; P < 0,05) pero negativa con las concentraciones de ROL (r = -0,36: P < 0,0001) o AT (r = -0,35; P < 0,0001) plasmático. Solo el estatus plasmático de ROL y AT evidenciaron una relación directa positiva con el CMS, lo que sugiere que los depósitos de ROL o AT son menos lábiles que los de BC. En días diferentes del postparto, las concentraciones hepáticas de BC fueron correlacionadas positivamente con las concentraciones hepáticas de TAG de una manera consistente, pero las correlaciones entre las concentraciones de ROL o AT hepático vs. las de TAG hepático no fueron significativas. Los resultados sugieren que la función reguladora del hígado para mantener las concentraciones plasmáticas de retinol puede estar comprometida en las vacas que sufren hígado graso.
ABSTRACT
Understanding the determinants of animal abundance has become more vital as ecologists are increasingly asked to apply their knowledge to the construction of informed management plans. However, there are few general models are available to explain variation in abundance. Some notable exceptions are studies of folivorous primates, in which the protein-to-fiber ratio of foods has been shown to predict biomass. Here we examine the generality of Milton's [American Naturalist 114:363-378, 1979] protein/fiber model by providing a detailed analysis of diet selection in black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza), and applying the model to populations shown to be stable; an assumption not previously examined. Based on observations of two groups of black-and-white colobus in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and one group in a forest fragment, we documented that the animals selected young leaves that had more protein, were more digestible, and had a higher protein-to-fiber ratio than mature leaves. The mature leaves did not differ from young leaves with respect to secondary compounds or mineral content (with the exceptions of copper and zinc). All of the colobus groups selected foods with a high protein-to-fiber ratios. However, one group also selected more digestible foods, and in another group, foraging efforts were positively related to zinc and negatively related to potassium. Previous studies that examined Milton's protein/fiber model did not demonstrate that the study populations were stable. If some populations were not at carrying capacity, then the correlations drawn between food availability and/or quality and folivore biomass may have been spurious. To address this issue, we censused a series of forest fragments in 1995 and again in 2000. We found that the populations in these fragments had declined from 165 in 1995 to 119 animals in 2000. However, based on evidence of population stability and lack of forest disturbance, we concluded that five of the original populations were stable. The biomass of these populations was related to the protein-to-fiber ratio of the fragment's trees. Combining our data with published data, we demonstrate that the protein-to-fiber ratios of mature leaves available to these folivorous primates accounted for 87% of the variance in their biomass.
