Abstract
Plasma samples were taken before morning feeding twice weekly for the first 3 months post partum from 28 individually fed cows, of which 8 developed clinical ketosis. Feed rations consisted of grass silage ad libitum and concentrates. The high incidence of ketosis may be accounted for mainly by substandard amounts of feed energy, and by variations in the quality of the grass silage.
The following sources of post-partum thyroxine variation were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001): The individual cow, the individual pre-calving thyroxine level, metabolic status estimated by plasma levels of acetoacetate or glucose, and elapsed time from partus. The post-partum decrease in thyroxine was greater in cows which developed ketosis (55 %) than at the corresponding stage of lactation in those which remained moderately ketonaemic (33 %). Extensive overlapping of ranges nevertheless indicates that the apparent hypothyroidism of ketosis is of limited importance for the etiology of the disease. Susceptibility to ketosis was not related to the thyroxine levels observed before partus or after recovery from the disease, in the third month of lactation. Evidence was obtained of a common glucose threshold of about 3.6 mmol/1, below which decreasing sugar levels were accompanied by progressive increments in acetoacetate and decreases in thyroxine. Above the threshold level, the average level of the hormone increased from the first to the third month of lactation in spite of a poor correlation to glucose.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andresen O, Amrud J, Groholt LE, Heiland G, Schie K-A, Sylliâs GA: Total thyroxine and free thyroxine index in plasma of dairy cows in relation to strength of heat. Acta vet. scand. 1980, 21, (108–112).
Blom A, Halse K: Corticosteroids in nocturnal blood plasma of cows in the field related to stage of lactation and plasma acetoacetate. Acta Endocr. (Kbh). 1975, 78, (306–315).
Blum JW, Gingins M, Vitinis P, Bickel H: Thyroid hormone levels related to energy and nitrogen balance during weight loss and regain in adult sheep. Acta Endocr. (Kbh). 1980, 93, (440–447).
Blum JW, Kunz P, Schnyder W, Thompson EF, Blom A, Vitins P, Bickel H: Changes of hormones and metabolites during reduced and compensatory growth. Ann. Rech. vet. 1979, 10, (391–392).
Davidson MB, Chopra IJ: Effect of carbohydrate and non-carbohydrate sources of calories on plasma 3, 5, 3’-triiodothyronine concentrations in man. J. clin. Endocr. 1979, 48, (577–581).
Halse K, Hove K, Ertzaas P: A biological definition of ketonemia in cows. Proc., 5th Internat. Conference on Production Disease in Farm Animals, Uppsala 1983, p. 137–140.
Haise K, Mogstad O: Klinisk og subklinisk ketose hos kyr. - Tid etter kalving. (Clinical and subclinical ketosis in dairy cows. - Time distance from calving). Norsk Vet.-T. 1975, 87, (311–319).
Hart IC, Bines JA, Morant SV, Ridley SL: Endocrine control of energy metabolism in the cow: Comparison of the levels of hormones (prolactin, growth hormone, insulin and thyroxine) and metabolites in the plasma of high-and low-yielding cattle at various stages of lactation. J. Endocr. 1978, 77, (333–345).
Heitzman RS, Mallinson CB: A comparison of the thyroxine levels in the plasma of healthy, starved and acetonaemic dairy cows. Res. Vet. Sei. 1972, 13, (591–593).
How J, Bewsher PD: Galacthorrea as a sole presentation of mild and subclinical primary hypothyroidism. Europ. J. Obstet. Gynaec. Reprod. Biol. 1979, 9, (23–27).
Kruse V: Production and evaluation of high quality thyroxine antiserum for use in radioimmunoassay. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 1976, 36, (95–101).
Larsen PR, Dockalova J, Sipula D, Wu FM: Immunoassay of thyroxine in unextracted human serum. J. clin. Endocr. 1973, 37, (177–182).
Mixner JP, Kramer DH, Szabo KT: Effects of breed, stage of lactation and season of year on thyroid secretion rate of dairy cows as determined by the chemical thyroxine turnover method. J. Dairy Sei. 1962, 45, (999–1002).
Palmblad J, Levi L, Burger A, Melander A, West-gren N, von Schenck H, Skude G: Effects of total energy withdrawal (fasting) on the levels of growth hormone, thyrotropin, cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, T4, T3 and rTß in healthy males. Acta med. scand. 1977, 201, (15–22).
Riis PM, Madsen A: Thyroxine concentrations and secretion rates in relation to pregnancy, lactation and energy balance in goats. J. Endocr. 1985, 107, (421–427).
Ropstad E, Halse K, Refsdal AO: Variations in parameters of liver function and plasma progesterone related to underfeeding and ketosis in a dairy herd. Acta vet. scand. 1989, 30, 185–197.
SAS (Statistical Analysis System): SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc. Cary, N. C. 1982.
Spaulding SW, Chopra J.J., Sherwin RS, Lyall SS: Effects of caloric restriction and dietary composition on serum T3 and reverse T3 in man. J. clin. Endocr. 1976, 42, (197–200).
Thilsted SH: Regulation of the partition of nutrients in the dairy cow in late pregnancy and early lactation. Tierphysiol. Tieremähr. Fut-termittelk. 1985, 53, (10–18).
Tveit B, Haise K, Vik-Mo L: Thyroideafunksjon og ketose. (Thyroid function and ketosis). Aktuelt fra Landbruksdepartementets opplys-ningstjeneste. Husdyrforsoksmotet 1980, No 1, 143–148. (Available from Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Center, Moervn. 12, N-1430 Âs, Norway).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ropstad, E., Halse, K. & Refsdal, A.O. Thyroxine in Blood Plasma Related to Plasma Levels of Acetoacetate and Glucose in Ketotic and Healthy Cows. Acta Vet Scand 30, 175–183 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548054
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548054