Growth and carcass composition of pre-pubertal dairy heifers treated with bovine growth hormone

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Sandles ◽  
C. J. Peel

ABSTRACTThe effects of long-term administration of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on growth and carcass composition of pasture-fed, pre-pubertal dairy heifers were examined. Purified bovine GH (specific activity, 0·78 i.u. per mg) was administered daily for 21 weeks (0·6 mg GH per kg M0·75) to one member of each of 12 sets of twins. GH administration resulted in a significantly higher growth rate (0·58 kg/ day) compared with the control group (0·54 kg/day) and produced a heavier carcass (75·6 kg v. 69·5 kg). However, this production gain did not persist when GH treatment ceased. Plasma metabolite concentrations and carcass composition were not affected by GH treatment. GH tended to increase slightly the voluntary intake of freshly cut herbage dry matter (3·5 kg/day v. 3·7 kg/day; P < 0·05), but had no effect on food conversion efficiency. Serum somatomedin levels were not significantly increased by GH during week 13 of treatment. This experiment indicates that pre-pubertal heifers chronically treated with GH will increase their food intake to sustain an increased rate of growth. However, the production gains made over the treatment period were transient and within 5 weeks of the cessation of GH treatment there was no difference in the live weight of the two groups.

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Sandles ◽  
C. J. Peel ◽  
P. D. Temple-Smith

ABSTRACTThe effects of long-term administration of bovine growth hormone (GH) on pre-pubertal mammogenesis and subsequent milk production were examined in pasture-fed dairy heifers. Purified bovine GH (specific activity 0·78 i.u. per mg) was administered daily for 21 weeks (0·6 mg GH per kg M 0·75) to one member of each of 12 sets of twins from 3·5 (range 2·5 to 4-5) months of age. GH administration resulted in a significantly smaller mammary gland compared with control heifers at slaughter at the end of treatment (717 v. 839 g; P < 005 (no. = 4)) and increased the proportion of mammary fat pad containing parenchyma (461 v. 383 g/kg; P < 0·01). Mammary parenchymal dry, fat-free tissue was increased in the GH-treated group (25·8 v. 22·5 g; P < 0·05), and fat-pad adipose tissue was reduced (323 v. 435 g; P < 005), compared with the control group. Morphometric analysis of the mammary gland revealed an increase in the volume fraction of connective tissue (P < 0·1) and a tendency toward less fat in GH-treated heifers compared with control heifers. Estimates of the composition of the whole gland confirmed that GH treatment reduced total mammary fat (372 v. 496 g; P < 0·05). At calving, udder volume was greater in the heifers treated with GH compared with the untreated group (14·8 v. 11·2 1; P < 0·05 (no. = 4)). However, there were no differences in the mean daily yields of milk or milk components between groups.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Peel ◽  
L. D. Sandles ◽  
Kaylene J. Quelch ◽  
A. C. Herington

ABSTRACTThe effect of chronic administration of bovine growth hormone (GH) on milk production, food intake and live-weight change was evaluated in five sets of monozygotic twin cows on pasture. Purified bovine pituitary GH (specific activity, 0·78 IU/mg) was administered by daily subcutaneous injections (39 IU/day) for a period of 22 weeks (weeks 5 to 26 of lactation). GH treatment resulted in significantly higher yields of milk (23·3 kg/day), fat (0·97 kg/day), protein (0·74 kg/day) and lactose (115 kg/day) compared with the control group (19·8 kg/day, 0·79 kg/day, 0·63 kg/day, 0·99 kg/day). Milk composition did not differ between treatment groups. There was no difference in the intake of cut grass in week 8 but the voluntary intake of the GH group had increased by week 22 (controls, 15·4 kg dry matter (DM) per day and GH group, 17·5 kg DM per day). There were no differences in the rate of live-weight change for the two groups. Serum somatomedin concentrations were significantly elevated in the GH group on weeks 20 to 22 of treatment (0·043 v. 0·135 U/ml). This experiment indicates that cows chronically treated with GH were able to adjust their food intake upwards to sustain a substantial increase in milk production on a diet composed solely of grass.


1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Pell ◽  
C. Elcock ◽  
R. L. Harding ◽  
D. J. Morrell ◽  
A. D. Simmonds ◽  
...  

The effect of long-term (10 weeks) treatment with growth hormone (GH) was investigated in twin lambs, one sibling being a control and the other treated with GH (0.1 mg/kg live weight per d). The lambs were fed on a concentrate-grass cube (9: 1 w/w) diet at a daily rate of 40 g fresh weightlkg Live weight. The average daily live-weight gain of the GH-treated lambs was 36% greater than that of the controls (307 v. 225 g/d, P < 0.01). The carcass composition of the GH-treated lambs changed: fat content was decreased (P < 001) and protein content was increased (P< 0.05) when expressed relative to carcass dry matter. The absolute weights and the weights when expressed relative to fleece-free empty body of some muscles were significantly increased in GH-treated lambs. The mean retention times of both particulate- and liquid-phase components of the digesta were unchanged by GH treatment, when calculated for the rumen or for the entire gastrointestinal tract. The feed conversion ratio was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in GH-treated lambs compared with controls. Nitrogen retained per g N intake was also significantly increased (P < 0.05) by GH treatment. Plasma urea concentrations were decreased (P < 005) and glucose concentrations were increased (P< 001) in GH-treated lambs, whereas non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were unchanged. Plasma insulin and total insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations progressively increased in GH-treated lambs as treatment time continued. They were significantly correlated after week 4 of treatment. Two types of hepatic GH- binding site were detected, with high and low affinities for GH. The capacities of both binding sites were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in GH-treated lambs when expressed per unit microsomal protein but, when expressed per liver, only the capacity of the high-affinity site was increased.


Author(s):  
R.F. Butterwick ◽  
P. Rowlinson ◽  
T.E.C. Weekes ◽  
D.S. Parker ◽  
D.G. Armstrong

The objectives of the trial were to Investigate the effects of long-term administration of bovine somatotropin (BST) from week 2 and 10 post-partumn on the yields of milk, milk components, body weight, body condition, health and reproductive status during the first lactation of dairy heifers.19 Friesian dairy cows in their first lactation were allocated at calving to one of 3 treatments: Daily subcutaneous Injection of recomblnantly derived bovine somatotropin (25 mg/d) from either week 2 (BST2;n=6) or week 10 (BST10;n=6) of lactation, or injection of buffer solution from week 2 of lactation (C;n=7). Treatments continued until week 42 of lactation, or until 60 days prior to predicted calving date, if this occurred before week 42 of lactation. Initially cows were housed in cubicles and fed ad libitum individually through calan doors, on a diet of concentrate and grass silage (Table 1) on a 60:40 dry matter ratio. In approximately mid-lactation cows were turned out to grass but continued to receive concentrates according to milk yield and body condition. Milk yield was recorded daily and milk composition twice weekly as were live weight and body condition. Health and reproductive status were monitored over the lactation.


Author(s):  
Lucia Schena ◽  
Cristina Meazza ◽  
Sara Pagani ◽  
Valeria Paganelli ◽  
Elena Bozzola ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:In recent years, several studies have been published showing different responses to growth hormone (GH) treatment in idiopathic short stature children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether non-growth-hormone-deficient (non-GHD) short children could benefit from long-term GH treatment as GHD patients.Methods:We enrolled 22 prepubertal children and 22 age- and sex-matched GHD patients, with comparable height, body mass index (BMI), bone age, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) circulating levels. The patients were treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) and followed until they reach adult height.Results:During GH treatment, the two groups grew in parallel, reaching the same final height-standard deviation score (SDS) and the same height gain. On the contrary, we found significantly lower IGF-I serum concentrations in non-GHD patients than in GHD ones, at the end of therapy (p=0.0055).Conclusions:In our study, the response to GH treatment in short non-GHD patients proved to be similar to that in GHD ones. However, a careful selection of short non-GHD children to be treated with GH would better justify the cost of long-term GH therapy.


Author(s):  
Azadeh Mesripour ◽  
Neda Rabian ◽  
Afsaneh Yegdaneh

Abstract Background Seaweeds are a famous traditional food resource in some countries containing different types of secondary metabolites. These marine organisms have shown different biological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hexane and methanol extracts of Sargassum plagyophylum on depression. Methods Sargassum plagyophylum was collected from Persian Gulf. The plant was extracted by maceration with methanol-ethyl acetate solvent. The extract was evaporated and partitioned by hexane and methanol solvents. The two partitions were administered i.p. to male mice either a single dose or for 7 days. Depression was evaluated by the forced swimming test (FST) which higher immobility time indicates depressive-like behavior. Results The immobility time during FST decreased significantly by all the doses of the hexane partitions (notably 40 mg/kg; 10 s ± 2 vs. 114 s ± 12 control group). However, only the lowest dose (20 mg/kg) of the methanol partition reduced immobility time during FST (23 s ± 8, p<0.001). Following the long term administration both of the partitions reduced the immobility time in FST (hexane 27 s ± 11, methanol 70 s ± 14, p<0.05 vs. control 140 s ± 14). Conclusion The hexane partition showed antidepressant effects not only by long-term administration but also by the single dose during FST. The 7 days therapy with methanol partition also induced antidepressant behavior, but only the lowest single dose reduced immobility in FST. The methanol partitions possibly have certain substance that interfered with behavior in the FST. Therefore, S. plagyophylum should be considered for further antidepressant studies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
P. Gonzalez-Añover ◽  
T. Encinas ◽  
R.M. Garcia-Garcia ◽  
A. Veiga-Lopez ◽  
J. Santiago-Moreno ◽  
...  

Embryo output in sheep is increased when superovulatory FSH treatments are started in the presence of a high number of small follicles (2–3mm in size) and in absence of large follicles (&gt;6mm, Gonzalez-Bulnes et al., 2002. Theriogenology, 57, 1263–1272). Administration of GnRH antagonists (GnRHa) suppresses large follicles (Cognie et al., 2003. Theriogenology, 59, 171–188), whereas the use of growth hormone (GH) would increase the number of small follicles (Campbell et al., 1995. J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 49, 335–350). Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of pre-treatments with GH or GH plus GnRH antagonists for sheep embryo production. First, we studied the effects on follicular population by serial ultrasonographies. Thereafter, we determined whether such treatments can affect oocyte developmental competence. In a first trial, a total of 18 Manchega ewes were treated with intravaginal FGA sponges (Chronogest®, Intervet Int., H) during breeding season (beginning of April). Six animals received daily i.m. doses of 15mg of ovine GH (Tuenre, GA) for 6 days, while six females received GH plus two s.c. doses of 1.5mg of GnRHa (Antarelix™, Zentaris, G) on Days 0 and 3 of GH treatment, and six ewes acted as controls receiving saline. Number of follicles &gt;2mm, determined by daily transrectal ultrasonography, increased to reach significant differences on Day 4 in sheep treated with GH/GnRHa (22.7±0.8 v. 16.7±0.5, P&lt;0.001) and on Day 5 in ewes injected with GH (20.3±0.4 v. 17.0±0.6, P&lt;0.05). The second trial involved 18 Manchega ewes treated with progestagen sponges on Day 0 and distributed in three groups at the beginning of breeding season (end of July). In the first group (n=7), sheep were treated with two doses of GnRHa on Days 0 and 3 after sponge insertion and with three doses of 15mg of GH on Days 3, 4, and 5. Thereafter, ewes from this group and from a second experimental group (n=7) were treated with 3 doses of 1.5mL of FSH (Ovagen™, ICP, NZ) every 12h, starting on the afternoon of Day 5. A third group of sheep (n=4) did not receive GH/GnRHa or FSH, acting as controls. On Day 7, follicles were aspirated and the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were cultured for 24h at 38.5°C, 5% CO2, in TCM-199 supplemented with ovine FSH (Ovagen), LH, FCS, 17-βoestradiol, cysteamine, and sodium pyruvate (Sigma Chemical Co., MO, USA). Nuclear maturation was measured by Hoechst 33342 fluorescence. Mean number of COC was higher in GH/GnRHa+FSH group (8.7±0.9 v. 6.8±1.3 in FSH group, NS and 4.5±0.8 in control, P&lt;0.05) due to higher number of follicles with similar recovery rates (45.0±4.5, 40.3±1.4, and 39.1±7.1%, respectively). There were no significant differences on the ability of COC to resume meiosis, although this was higher in FSH group (63.1±9.5% for GH/GnRHa+FSH, 79.5±6.3% for FSH and 60.0±8.8% for control group), which can indicate the necessity of a higher FSH supply to induce final development in follicles/oocytes from ewes treated with GH and GnRHa. In conclusion, the use of GH and GnRHa would help to increase the number of gonadotrophin-responsive follicles prior to gonadotrophin injections;; also, adjustment of FSH treatments improved embryo yields in superovulatory protocols.


2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Francis ◽  
R. P. Littlejohn ◽  
S. K. Stuart ◽  
B. A. Veenvliet ◽  
J. M. Suttie

AbstractThe aim of this work was to determine whether developmental changes in growth hormone (GH) secretory patterns and carcass composition were influenced by nutrition and genotype in sheep. Four-month-old wether lambs from lean (low backfat), fat (high backfat) and control selection lines were nutritionally restricted to maintain a 28 kg live weight or given food ad libitum for 24 weeks. Plasma concentrations of GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured at predetermined times and carcass composition of the animals determined at the end of the trial.From week 3 on, restrictions in dry matter (DM) intake were observed as the ad libitum treatment group had a significantly greater intake than the restricted treatment group (7·70 v. 5·80 kg DM per week, s.e.d. = 0·81). Differences in live weight between the feeding treatments were significant (P < 0·05) at week 9. The restricted feeding regime was associated with significant reductions in plasma levels of IGF-1 but had no effect (P > 0·05) on carcass weight-adjusted carcass fat proportion at the close of the trial. The effect of food restriction on GH secretory patterns was variable. Although there was initially a suppression in mean plasma GH, there was subsequently significantly higher mean plasma GH in the restricted feeding treatment. Periodogram analysis indicated that both the absolute levels of GH and the GH secretory pattern were altered by restricted feeding. In all animals, mean and basal GH concentrations, as well as the frequency and amplitude of pulses, declined from February to March and then increased from May to July (P < 0·001).DM intake and live weight did not differ (P > 0·05) between genotypes, however the fat genotype had greater carcass fatness than lean or control genotypes (P < 0·01). There were no consistent differences between genotypes in plasma IGF-1 concentrations. In the ad libitum treatment, the lean and control genotypes had higher plasma GH levels than the f at genotype but the pattern of GH release did not vary. Under restricted feeding, both the pattern and the level of plasma GH varied between genotypes.It is concluded that the developmental change in GH secretory patterns is affected by nutrition but not in a consistent manner. Although restricted feeding resulted in higher mean plasma GH concentrations later in the trial, this did not result in a change in carcass composition. The biological cues which lead to increased fat deposition in older lambs need further study but plasma GH levels may not he an important mechanism in this process.


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