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Circulating placental lactogen levels in dairy and beef cattle
Endocrinology
|November 1, 1976
Summary
Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) levels rise in late pregnancy, with dairy cows showing higher serum concentrations than beef cattle. These levels are also elevated in twin pregnancies and are found in milk and amniotic fluid.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Endocrinology
- Animal science
Background:
- Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) is a key hormone in pregnancy.
- Understanding bPL dynamics is crucial for assessing bovine reproductive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify bovine placental lactogen (bPL) levels in serum, milk, and amniotic fluid of pregnant cattle.
- To investigate factors influencing bPL concentrations, including breed, parity, and pregnancy type.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to measure bPL levels.
- Serum, milk, and amniotic fluid samples were collected from dairy and beef cattle.
Main Results:
- Serum bPL levels increased significantly in the last trimester of gestation.
- Dairy cows exhibited higher serum bPL than beef cattle (1103 vs. 650 ng/ml).
- Elevated bPL was observed in twin pregnancies and correlated with milk production.
Conclusions:
- Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) levels are a reliable indicator of late-stage pregnancy in cattle.
- Differences in bPL levels between dairy and beef breeds may reflect metabolic or physiological variations.
- bPL likely enters milk and amniotic fluid via passive diffusion.