Relationships between plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin concentrations in multiparous dairy cows with...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Reproduction
• Ruminant Health

Background:

• Cytological endometritis (CYTO) is a uterine inflammation diagnosed via endometrial cytology.
• Low plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are linked to reduced fertility in dairy cows.
• The specific relationship between IGF-1, insulin, and CYTO development requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between prepartum and postpartum plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and insulin with the incidence of CYTO in multiparous Holstein cows.
• To identify risk factors, including body condition score and calving-related disorders, associated with CYTO development.

Main Methods:

• An observational study involving 119 multiparous Holstein cows.
• Measurement of blood plasma IGF-1 and insulin concentrations at -2 weeks prepartum, +1 week, and +3 weeks postpartum.
• Multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the association of IGF-1, insulin, body condition score, and calving complications with CYTO prevalence.

Main Results:

• Overall CYTO prevalence was 30.3%.
• Lower IGF-1 concentrations at -2 weeks prepartum (<74.6 ng/ml) and +1 week postpartum (<13.2 ng/ml) significantly increased the odds of developing CYTO (OR=3.54 and OR=4.41, respectively).
• Lower body condition score (≤2.75) at -2 weeks prepartum and calving-related disorders/ill health were also associated with a higher risk of CYTO.

Conclusions:

• Reduced plasma IGF-1 concentrations, particularly around calving, are significant predictors for the development of CYTO in dairy cows.
• Low IGF-1 may contribute to uterine inflammation, partially explaining its association with reduced dairy cow fertility.
• Insulin levels were not found to be a significant predictor for CYTO in this study.