Investigating the Concentrations of Thyroid Hormones and Cortisol in Holstein Cows Before and After Parturition

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mostafa Rajaeinia 1
Seyedeh Ommolbanin Ghasemian 2
1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar- Iran.
2 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Behbahan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Behbahan- Iran
10.22034/IJVCS.2024.14899.1104
Abstract
Studying the changes in the concentration of cortisol and thyroid hormones in blood serum is considered an effective step in monitoring the health of animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of thyroid hormones and cortisol in Holstein cows two weeks before and two weeks after calving. This research was a quasi-experimental study conducted on 60 three-year-old Holstein cows. Blood samples were taken from tail vein 14 days before birth and 14 days after birth. The concentration of thyroid hormones and cortisol were investigated using an ELISA kit. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4 and T3), and cortisol were compared in three groups of heifers: one pregnant and two pregnant heifers. The level of T4 hormone after the birth of animals (7.07±3.26 ng/dL) was significantly higher than its level before this event (4.98±1.83 ng/dL) (P<0.05). However, T3 and TSH levels were not significantly different before and after parturition. It seems that the concentration of T4 before parturition is lower than the concentration of this hormone after parturition. The results of this research indicate that cortisol, T3, and TSH hormone levels before and after parturition are statistically the same. However, the concentration of thyroxine hormone two weeks after parturition was higher than it was two weeks before parturition
Keywords
Transition Period
Thyroid
Cortisol
Dairy Cow
1- ALkalby J. Effect of Late Pregnancy, Parturition and Early Lactation on T3, T4and Cortisol Level of Heifers and Cows. University of Thi-Qar Journal of Science. 2013;3(4):34-40.
2- Amiri H, Shabkhiz F, Pournemati P, Quchan AHSK, Fard RZ. Swimming exercise reduces oxidative stress and liver damage indices of male rats exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Life Sciences. 2023;317:121461.
3- Arfuso F, Fazio F, Levanti M, Rizzo M, Di Pietro S, Giudice E, et al. Lipid and lipoprotein profile changes in dairy cows in response to late pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Archives Animal Breeding. 2016;59(4):429-34.
4- Chalmeh AA, Hajimohammadi A. Circulating metabolic hormones in different metabolic states of high producing Holstein dairy cows. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 2016;10.
5-    Constable PD, Hinchcliff KW, Done SH, Grünberg W. Veterinary medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.
6-Fazio E, Bionda A, Chiofalo V, Crepaldi P, Lopreiato V, Medica P, et al. Adaptive Responses of Thyroid Hormones, Insulin, and Glucose during Pregnancy and Lactation in Dairy Cows. Animals (Basel). 2022;12.
7- Fazio E, Bionda A, Chiofalo V, Crepaldi P, Lopreiato V, Medica P, et al. Adaptive Responses of Thyroid Hormones, Insulin, and Glucose during Pregnancy and Lactation in Dairy Cows. Animals. 2022;12(11):1395.
8-    Gellrich K, Sigl T, Meyer HH, Wiedemann S. Cortisol levels in skimmed milk during the first 22 weeks of lactation and response to short-term metabolic stress and lameness in dairy cows. Journal of animal science and biotechnology. 2015;6(1):1-7.
9-    Gross JJ. Dairy cow physiology and production limits. Animal Frontiers: The Review Magazine of Animal Agriculture. 2023;13(3):4.
10- Masmeijer C, Deprez P, van Leenen K, De Cremer L, Cox E, Devriendt B, et al. Arrival cortisol measurement in veal calves and its association with body weight, protein fractions, animal health and performance. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2021;18. 7: 105251.
11- Meyerholz MM, Mense K, Linden M, Raliou M, Sandra O, Schuberth H-J, et al. Peripheral thyroid hormone levels and hepatic thyroid hormone deiodinase gene expression in dairy heifers on the day of ovulation and during the early peri-implantation period. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. 2015;58:1-6.
12- Mutinati M, Rizzo A, Sciorsci RL. Cystic ovarian follicles and thyroid activity in the dairy cow. Animal reproduction science. 2013;138(3-4):150-4.
13- Norris DO, Lopez KH. Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates, Volume 5: Mammals: Elsevier; 2024.
14- P Delitala A, Fanciulli G, M Pes G, Maioli M, Delitala G. Thyroid hormones, metabolic syndrome and its components. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders). 2017;17(1):56-62.
15- Paragliola RM, Corsello A, Concolino P, Ianni F, Papi G, Pontecorvi A, et al. Iodothyronine deiodinases and reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormones. Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark. 2020; 201: (2) 5-28.
16- Saeb M, Baghshani H, Nazifi S, Saeb S. Physiological response of dromedary camels to road transportation in relation to circulating levels of cortisol, thyroid hormones and some serum biochemical parameters. Tropical animal health and production. 2010;42:55-63.
17- Samimi A, Aghamiri S. Changes of serum concentrations of cortisol and thyroid hormones and their correlation during pregnancy, lactation and dry periods in Saanen goats. Veterinary Research & Biological Products. 2017;30(4):216-22.
18- Sgorlon S, Fanzago M, Guiatti D, Gabai G, Stradaioli G, Stefanon B. Factors affecting milk cortisol in mid lactating dairy cows. BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11(1):1-8.
19- Shahreza FD, Seifi HA, Mohri M. The relationship between body condition score, thyroxin, and health condition and serum energy indices, insulin like growth factor-1, and lipids profile over the transition period in Holstein dairy cows. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research. 2022;23(2):111.
20- Sinka K, Illek J, Kumprechtová D, Novák P, editors. Changes T3 and T4 Plasma Concentrations in dairy cows during lactation. Jubilee World Buiatrics Congress; 2008.
21- Smith BP. Diseases of the alimentary tract. Large Animal Internal Medicine 3rd Edn Mosby St Louis Missouri USA. 2002: 7-22.
22- Steinhoff L, Jung K, Meyerholz M, Heidekorn-Dettmer J, Hoedemaker M, Schmicke M. Thyroid hormone profiles and TSH evaluation during early pregnancy and the transition period in dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2019;129:23-8.
23- Tsujii H. Cystic ovarian disease and thyroid hormones in dairy cattle. Approaches Poult Dairy Vet Sci. 2017;1:256-61.
24- Van Uytfanghe K, Ehrenkranz J, Halsall D, Hoff K, Loh TP, Spencer CA, et al. Thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine and thyroxine): an American Thyroid Association-commissioned review of current clinical and laboratory status. Thyroid. 2023;33(9):1013-28.
Iranian Journal of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 2 - Serial Number 31
Fall & winter 2024/2025
January 2025
Pages 59-65