Age-related changes of selected blood biochemical indicators in dairy calves during their first week of life.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of age and ingested food (colostrum and mature milk) on the concentrations of selected blood biochemical components connected with nitrogen and mineral metabolism in dairy calves during their first week of life. The experiment was carried out on 13 Polish Black and White breed dairy calves. The animals were fed colostrum within the first 3 days of postnatal life and thereafter the mature milk of their dams until the end ofthe experiment (7 days). The obtained results showed that intensive catabolic and anabolic changes in nitrogen occur in the first week of life. These changes were particularly intense during the first 24-48 hours of life and may reflect dynamic tissue remodelling. The results of this experiment also show that healthy calves efficiently regulate water and electrolyte homeostasis.

Renal regulation of potassium homeostasis in calves in the first week of life including the role of atrial natriuretic peptide.

The experiment was carried out on 10 clinically healthy Polish-Friesian var. Black-and-White cow calves, during the first seven days of postnatal life. The results indicate that renal removal of potassium depends primarily on the quantity reabsorbed in the tubules, whereas clearance of the electrolyte, due to stable levels in the blood plasma, depends on the amount excreted in the urine. With stable tubular reabsorption of potassium, a relatively unchanging amount of excreted potassium was observed in the urine. However, reduced tubular reabsorption caused a significant increase in excretion and clearance of the electrolyte. Changes in the amount of filtered potassium play a minor role in the regulation of excretion. Small changes in the blood plasma potassium concentration observed primarily resulted from changes in glomerular filtration rate and tubular reabsorption, since the concentration of electrolyte in the blood after birth remained within the physiological range. The results ofthis study suggest that neonate calf kidneys are sufficiently prepared to regulate kalemia. Atrial natriuretic peptide is not directly involved in the regulation of tubular reabsorption of potassium in calves in the first week of life, although it is highly likely that the peptide is involved in the excretion of potassium in the urine in calves during the first seven days of life.

Comparative study of selected blood biochemical components in milk or milk-replacer fed calves during the second week of life.

The experiment was carried out on 13 male Polish Black and White dairy calves of 75% share of the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed during the second week of life. The animals were divided into two groups. One group (n=7) was fed mother's milk and the second (n=6) milk replacer. The dynamics of changes in concentration of selected blood biochemical components connected with nitrogen metabolism (plasma total protein, albumin, urea, endogenous creatinine) and with mineral metabolism (sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and plasma osmotic pressure) were analyzed in both groups. The results show that the type of ingested food influences the concentration of indicators reflecting nitrogen metabolism. Changes of these parameters in calves fed milk replacer are possibly connected with advantageous catabolic changes. Stable concentrations of main extracellular fluid electrolytes and blood plasma osmotic pressure were found in both groups of calves. Constant blood plasma calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper concentrations observed during this study might also indicate the relative maturity of mechanisms maintaining water and electrolyte balance. Nevertheless, it seemsjustifiable to monitor the copper concentrations in plasma of young calves.

Neonatal Proteinuria in Calves-A Quantitative Approach.

Urine testing is a convenient, non-invasive method of obtaining information about body functions. Depending on the intended purpose, urine testing may be qualitative and/or quantitative. Urine analysis can also include proteins. There are no data in the literature on the occurrence of proteinuria in healthy neonatal calves. The present study was the first that aimed to quantify the hypothesis of proteinuria occurrence in these animals in the first week of life, to assess its intensity and dynamics and to understand the underlying causes of proteinuria in healthy calves. The research was carried out on 15 healthy calves in the first seven days of life. Calves were catheterized to determine minute diuresis. Total protein concentration was determined in blood plasma and urine. Urine proteins were separated by electrophoresis (SDSPAGE) and their concentration and percentage were determined by densitometry using an image archiving and analysis software. The separated proteins were divided into three groups according to molecular weight for albumin, LMW and HMW proteins. The results were standardized per 1 m2 of body surface area and statistically analyzed. Neonatal proteinuria was demonstrated in healthy calves, mainly resulting from the high concentration of LMW proteins in the urine. Their percentages decreased significantly from 84.46% on the first day of calves' life to 64.02% on day 7. At the same time, a statistically significant increase was observed in the proportion of albumin and high molecular weight proteins in urine total protein. Albumin percentage increased from 9.54% (on day 1) to almost 20% (on day 7), while the proportion of HMW proteins increased from 6.68% to 18.13%, respectively. The concentration of total protein in the urine of newborn calves amounted to 14.64 g/L and decreased statistically significantly during the first 72 h of postnatal life, stabilizing at the level of 3-4 g/L. The mean value of total protein excretion in the first week of life was 4.81 mg/min/m2 (i.e., 6.93 g/24 h/m2). The analysis of protein concentration in the urine and its excretion, as well as changes in urinary excretion of the tested protein fractions, indicated that neonatal proteinuria in healthy neonatal calves was tubular (i.e., main reason is the reduced absorption of proteins in nephrons). In addition, research showed that there was a rapid improvement in resorptive mechanisms in tubular cells. It should be assumed that the filtration barrier in the kidneys of these animals after birth is morphologically prepared to retain high molecular weight proteins. It seems that the increased permeability of the filtration barrier in the glomeruli does not necessarily indicate the immaturity of the kidneys, but may indicate the kidneys' adaptation to excess protein removal from the body during feeding with high-protein food (colostrum), with an open intestinal barrier enabling protein absorption from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood.

Effects of Three-Month Feeding High Fat Diets with Different Fatty Acid Composition on Myocardial Proteome in Mice.

Westernized diet is characterized by a high content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a low level of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), often accompanied by an imbalance in the omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio. Since increased intake of SFA and n-6 PUFA is considered as a cardiovascular disease risk factor, this study was conducted to determine whether a three-month dietary supplementation of high-fat diets (HFDs) with saturated fatty acids and a significant proportion of various n-6 and n-3 PUFA ratios would affect the architecture and protein expression patterns of the murine heart. Therefore, three HFD (n = 6) feeding groups: rich in SFA, dominated by PUFA with the n-6/n-3-14:1, and n-6/n-3-5:1, ratios were compared to animals fed standard mouse chow. For this purpose, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis with MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry-based identification of differentially expressed cardiac proteins, and a histological examination of cardiac morphology. The results indicated that mice fed with all HFDs developed signs of hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Animals fed SFA-rich HFD manifested the most severe cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis lesions, whereas less pronounced changes were observed in the group of animals that ingested the highest amount of omega-3 FA. In general, all HFDs, regardless of FA composition, evoked a comparable pattern of cardiac protein changes and affected the following biological processes: lipid metabolism and FA ß-oxidation, glycolysis, TCA cycle, respiratory chain, myocardium contractility, oxidative stress and PUFA eicosanoid metabolism. However, it should be noted that three proteins, namely IDH3A, LDHB, and AK1, were affected differently by various FA contents. High expression of these myocardial proteins found in the group of animals fed a HFD with the highest n-3 PUFA content could be closely related to the observed development of hypertrophy.

Effect of converting enzyme inhibitor on copper and iron concentrations of blood plasma in calves during the neonatal period.

The converting enzyme catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Ang II is the key component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system, regulating water-electrolyte balance in newborn calves. Captopril is an inhibitor of the angiotensin-converting enzyme. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of captopril-induced reduction of convertase activity on copper and iron concentrations of blood plasma in calves. The experiment was carried out on 10 Holstein-Friesian female calves, during the first week of life. Copper and iron concentrations in blood plasma were examined before and after captopril administration (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after giving the inhibitor) on subsequent days of the experimental period. The results demonstrated that the copper concentration of blood plasma increased with age. On the seventh day, the copper concentration stabilised at the level observed in adult cattle. Measured before captopril administration, the iron concentration in blood plasma changed: the highest iron concentration was observed on the first day of life, which was followed by a decrease on the third day, and thereafter an increase on the seventh day. These changes may significantly influence the neonatal adaptation of newborn calves, particularly hemopoiesis efficiency. Captopril did not cause statistically significant changes in plasma copper concentration in calves. However, the reduction of angiotensin convertase activity induced by captopril administration resulted in a drop of plasma iron concentration, observed already within 1-2 hours after administration of the inhibitor, and especially within two days post partum. The results indicate that an efficient mechanism maintaining a constant concentration of selected minerals may involve changes in the reabsorption of these minerals from the system fluids to tissues.

Urinary Proteome of Newborn Calves-New Potential in Non-Invasive Neonatal Diagnostic.

Urine is a biological diagnostic material suitable not only for the analysis of kidney and urinary tract functions but also the function of other tissues and organs. The urine proteome of adult mammals differs from the urine proteome of neonatal ones. The establishment of urinary protein maps of healthy newborn calves is important for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of various diseases. The experiment was carried out on a Polish-Friesian var. of Black-and-White male calves in the sixth day of postnatal life. The two proteomics approaches used for separation and identification of urinary proteins were: 2-DE with MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS and 1-DE with LC-MS/MS. This resulted in the identification of 692 urinary proteins. The majority of them were classified as extracellular proteins (40.32%), as well as proteins involved in regulation of major cellular processes (31.07%). We have observed the presence of unique proteins associated with embryonic (ameloblastin, alpha-fetoprotein, Delta-like protein, embryo-specific fibronectin 1 transcript variant, Indian hedgehog homolog) and kidney development (angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensinogen, aquaporin-1, calbindin, glypican 3, nidogen 1, pro-cathepsin H). Additionally, proteins involved in the renal regulation of water and electrolyte balance (angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme, aquaporin-1, ezrin, uromodulin) were detected. Presented in the current study 1-D and 2-D urinary proteomic maps are the basis for the identification and detection of prognostic biomarkers important for defining a calf's health status.

Potential plasma biomarkers of bladder cancer identified by proteomic analysis: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer diagnosis and surveillance includes cystoscopy and cytology. New methods for the detection of bladder cancer are needed, because cystoscopy is invasive and expensive, and because urine cytology is not sensitive enough. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to select potential plasma protein markers for bladder cancer which could be useful in developing a specific laboratory test to improve diagnosis and to establish treatment strategies in order to prevent the recurrence of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma proteome maps were prepared based on 2-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), combined with image gel analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry of plasma samples from patients with urothelial bladder cancer, and they were compared to normal samples. RESULTS: The analyses of bladder cancer plasma samples allowed us to distinguish 3 groups of proteins whose relative abundance differed from that in normal samples. The 1st one comprised modified forms of plasma transferrin, fibrinogen gamma and complement C3b, which were absent in normal plasma. The 2nd group comprised haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, vitamin D-binding protein, and pigment epithelium-derived factor, which occurred in the cancerous samples in large quantities. The 3rd group consisted of 3 molecular forms of immunoglobulin M (IgM), the relative abundance of which was significantly lower in the cancerous plasma samples. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated potential plasma biomarkers associated with inflammation, immunity and coagulation processes accompanying bladder cancer. They could be used for the development of a laboratory test(s) useful in clinical practice.