Leptin in Bovine Colostrum and Milk

Abstract

We studied leptin content in bovine colostrum, milk and plasma during the first month of lactation, and investigated relationships between selected milk components and milk leptin in five multiparous dairy cows. Colostrum/milk yield and composition were measured on days 0, 10, 20, and 30 of lactation. Leptin was assayed using a multi-species leptin RIA kit. Leptin concentration was 56 % lower in mature milk (day 10) than colostrum (13.90 vs. 6.14 µg/l; p < 0.001), but remained steady over the twenty days afterwards. Daily secretion of leptin into mature milk was 28 % lower than into colostrum (173.2 µg/d vs. 220.0 µg/d; p = 0.09) notwithstanding an 80 % increase in production. Colostrum and milk leptin levels correlated with fat (0.90; p < 0.001) and choline phospholipid (0.76; p < 0.05). Plasma and milk leptin decreased during the first month, but remained higher in milk, and highest in colostrum. Thus, leptin is present in large quantities in colostrum, less so and more variably in untreated milk, and is likely to be decreased in skimmed milk. These findings have implications for the use of untreated milk and colostrum-based (functional) food products.

Cow - unprocessed colostrum - unprocessed milk - plasma - leptin

References

• 1 Houseknecht K L, Baile C A, Matteri R L, Spurlock M E. The biology of leptin: a review.  J Anim Sci. 1998;  76 1405-1420
• 2 Teixeira C V, Ramos C DF, Mouco T, Passos M CF, De Moura E G. Leptin injection during lactation alters thyroid function in adult rats.  Horm Metab Res. 2003;  35 367-371
• 3 Cizza G, Dorn L D, Lotsikas A, Sereika S, Rotenstein D, Chrousos G P. Circulating Plasma leptin and IGF-1 levels in girls with premature adrenarche: potential implications of a preliminary study.  Horm Metab Res. 2005;  37 45-48
• 4 Vernon R G, Denis R G, Sorensen A, Williams G. Leptin and the adaptations of lactation in rodents and ruminants.  Horm Metab Res. 2002;  34 678-685
• 5 Delavaud C, Bocquier F, Chilliard Y, Keisler D H, Gertler A, Kann G. Plasma leptin determination in ruminants: effect of nutritional status and body fatness on plasma leptin concentration assessed by a specific RIA in sheep.  J Endocrinol. 2000;  165 519-526
• 6 Block S S, Butler W R, Ehrhardt R A, Bell A W, van Amburgh M E, Boisclair Y R. Decreased concentration of plasma leptin in periparturient dairy cows is caused by negative energy balance.  J Endocrinol. 2001;  171 339-348
• 7 Kawai M, Yamaguchi M, Murakami T, Shima K, Murata Y, Kishi K. The placenta is not the main source of leptin production in pregnant rat: gestational profile of leptin in plasma and adipose tissues.  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997;  240 798-802
• 8 Smith-Kirwin S M, O'Connor D M, De Johnston J, Lancey E D, Hassink S G, Funanage V L. Leptin expression in human mammary epithelial cells and breast milk.  J Clin Endo Metab. 1998;  83 1810-1813
• 9 Smith J L, Sheffield L G. Production and regulation of leptin in bovine mammary epithelial cells.  Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 2002;  22 145-154
• 10 Bartha T, Sayed-Ahmed A, Rudas P. Expression of leptin and its receptors in various tissues of ruminants.  Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005;  29 193-202
• 11 Rosi F, Savoini G, Capalbo R. Dairy cow: relationships between milk and plasma leptin and productive performance. In: Piva G, Bertoni G, Masoero F, Bani P, Calamari L (eds) Recent progress in animal production science. 1. Proceedings of the A.S.P.A. XIII Congress. Milano; F Angeli 1999: 422-424
• 12 Rosi F, Pinotti L, Campagnoli A, Magistrelli A. Leptin distribution in goat milk fractions. In: van der Honing Y (ed) Book of abstracts of the Proc. 54th Annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production. Wageningen; Wageningen Academic Publishers 2003: 221
• 13 Chilliard Y, Bonnet M, Delavaud C, Faulconnier Y, Leroux C, Djiane J, Bocquier F. Leptin in ruminants. Gene expression in adipose tissue and mammary gland, and regulation of plasma concentration.  Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2001;  21 271-295
• 14 Estienne M J, Harper A F, Kozink D M, Knight J W. Serum and milk concentrations of leptin in gilts fed a high- or low-energy diet during gestation.  Anim Reprod Sci. 2003;  75 95-105
• 15 Salimei E, Varisco G, Rosi F. Major constituents, leptin, and non-protein nitrogen compounds in mares' colostrum and milk.  Reprod Nutr Dev. 2002;  42 65-72
• 16 Silva L FP, Vanderhaar M J, Weber Nielsen M S, Smith G W. Evidence for a local effect of leptin in bovine mammary gland.  J Dairy Sci. 2002;  85 3277-3286
• 17 Laud K, Gourdou I, Belair L, Keisler D H, Djiane J. Detection and regulation of leptin receptor mRNA in ovine mammary epithelial cells during pregnancy and lactation.  FEBS Lett. 1999;  463 194-198
• 18 Bonnet M, Delavaud C, Laud K, Gourdou I, Leroux C, Djiane J, Chilliard Y. Mammary leptin synthesis, milk leptin and their putative physiological roles.  Reprod Nutr Dev. 2002;  42 399-413
• 19 Korhonen H. Technology options for new nutritional concepts.  Bulletin of the IDF. 2001;  374 50-60
• 20 Baldi A, Politis I, Pecorini C, Fusi E, Chronopoulou R, dell’Orto V. Biological effects of milk proteins and their peptides with emphasis on those related to the gastrointestinal ecosystem.  J Dairy Res. 2005;  72 Suppl.1 66-72
• 21 Dale J. Choosing an infant or perdiatric formula.  J Pediatr Health Care. 2004;  18 49-52
• 22 Donnet-Hughes A, Duc N, Serrant P, Vidal K, Schiffrin E J. Bioactive molecules in milk and their role in health and disease: the role of transforming growth factor-beta.  Immunol Cell Biol. 2000;  78 74-79
• 23 Reist M, Erdin D, von Euw D, Tschuemperlin K, Leuenberger H, Delavaud C, Chilliard Y, Hammon H M, Kuenzi N, Blum J W. Concentrate feeding strategy in lactating dairy cows: metabolic and endocrine changes with emphasis on leptin.  J Dairy Sci. 2003;  86 1690-1706
• 24 Gabai G, Cozzi G, Rosi F, Andrighetto I, Bono G. Glucose or essential amino acid infusions in late pregnant and early lactating Simmenthal cows failed to induce a leptin response.  J Vet Med A. 2002;  49 73-80
• 25 Takayama M, Itoh S, Nagasaki T, Tanimizu I. A new enzymatic method for determination of serum choline-containing phospholipids.  Clin Chim Acta. 1977;  79 93-98
• 26 Lönnerdal B, Havel P J. Serum leptin concentrations in infants: effects of diet, sex, and adiposity.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;  72 484-489
• 27 Ingvartsen K L, Boisclair Y R. Leptin and the regulation of food intake, energy homeostasis and immunity with special focus on periparturient ruminants.  Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2001;  21 215-250
• 28 Soliman M, Ishioka K, Yoshida R, Komabayashi K, Hatai H, Matsui Y, Hirai T, Katagiri S, Takahashi Y, Kawakita Y, Abe H, Kitamura H, Kimura K, Saito M. Serum leptin levels during the periparturient period in cows.  J Vet Med Sci. 2002;  64 1053-1056
• 29 Nikolic J A, Kulcsar M, Katai L, Nedic O, Janosi S, Huszenicza G. Periparturientendocrine and metabolic changes in healthy cows and in cows affected by mastitis.  J Vet Med A. 2003;  50 22-29
• 30 Chilliard Y, Delavaud C, Bonnet M. Leptin expression in ruminants: Nutritional and physiological regulations in relation with energy metabolism.  Domest Anim Endocrinol.. 2005;  29 3-22
• 31 Whitley N C, Walker E L, Harley S A, Keisler D H, Jackson D J. Correlation between blood and milk serum leptin in goats and growth of their offspring.  J Anim Sci. 2005;  83 1854-1859
• 32 Rosi F, Bontempo V, Capalbo R, Baldi A. Effects of rumen-protected methionine on milk yield, milk leptin and milk nitrogenous compounds during lactation.  Livest Prod Sci. 2001;  70 178
• 33 Lage M, Balzelli R, Camina J P, Rodriguez-Garcia J, Penalva A, Dieguez C, Casanueva F F. Presence of bovine leptin in edible commercial milk and infant formula.  J Endocrinol Invest. 2002;  25 670-674
• 34 Pinotti L, Baldi A, Dell’Orto V. Comparative mammalian choline metabolism with emphasis on the high-yielding dairy cow.  Nutr Res Rev. 2002;  15 315-331
• 35 Resto M, O'Connor D, Leef K, Funanage V, Spear M, Locke R. Leptin levels in preterm human breast milk and infant formula.  Pediatrics. 2001;  108 15-18
• 36 Koldovsky O. Hormones in milk: their possible physiological significance for the neonate. In: Lebenthal E (ed) Textbook of gastroenterology and nutrition in infancy, 2nd ed. New York; Raven Press 1989: 97-119