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Growth factors in milk: interrelationships with somatic cell count
1Technische Universität München, Institut für Physiologie, Freising-Weihenstephan, Deutschland.
The Journal of Dairy Research
|March 26, 1998
Summary
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels in milk correlate with somatic cell count (SCC), indicating their potential for monitoring udder health alongside SCC.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Growth factors are crucial in inflammatory processes.
- Understanding the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in bovine mastitis is essential for udder health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between IGF-1, bFGF, and somatic cell count (SCC) in normal milk.
- To determine the presence and levels of IGF-1 and bFGF in mammary secretions during clinical and subclinical mastitis in cows.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to measure IGF-1 and bFGF concentrations in quarter secretions from cows with mastitis.
- Somatic cell counts (SCC) were monitored in normally lactating cows during relocation trials involving changes in housing systems.
Main Results:
- IGF-1 concentration significantly correlated with SCC (r = 0.60; P < 0.001) during environmental changes, suggesting non-infectious factors influence both.
- Both IGF-1 and bFGF were significantly elevated in acute clinical mastitis secretions.
- Subclinical mastitis showed elevated IGF-1 but unchanged bFGF in relation to SCC.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors can alter SCC and growth factor levels in milk.
- IGF-1 and bFGF levels, particularly IGF-1, show promise as biomarkers for udder health monitoring.
- Measuring growth factor profiles may complement SCC for assessing udder health status in dairy cows.