Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in the infant calf: ontogeny and influence of altered nutrition

Abstract

ABSTRACT The developmental pattern of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin in calves subject to different patterns of weaning was investigated from birth until the age of 6 months. Fifteen male Friesian calves were fed on whole milk (10% of body weight per day) for the first 8 weeks after birth, then allocated into three balanced groups. Group 1 was weaned at 8 weeks; group 2 was weaned at 8 weeks, returned to milk-feeding at 13 weeks to be weaned again at the age of 16 weeks; group 3 was weaned at 12 weeks. After weaning the calves were fed on concentrates and lucerne hay. At birth, circulating concentrations of IGF-I correlated with birth weight (r = 0·78, P< 0·001). There was a significant (P<0·001) fall in plasma IGF-I from birth (40·3 ± 2·5 μg/l) until 5 weeks (23·8± 1·3 μg/l), and then a gradual (P<0·01) rise until week 8 (35·0 ± 2·2 μg/l). Weaning (groups 1 and 2 after week 8) caused a significant (P<0·01) decrease in plasma IGF-I (20·5 ± 1·9 μg/l); thereafter plasma levels of IGF-I rose gradually (P<0·01) in animals fed on concentrates. The milk-fed calves (group 3) showed a progressive increase in plasma IGF-I with age until they were weaned at 12 weeks (51·0 ± 3·4 μg/l); IGF-I levels then decreased to be similar to group 1 (32·5 ± 2·1 μg/l). When group 2 was returned to milk-feeding, plasma IGF-I concentrations increased to 58·2 ±3·8 μg/l within 4 days and then continued to rise gradually until decreasing upon weaning. The age-related increase in the plasma concentration of IGF-I after 6 weeks was parallel in milk- and concentrate-fed calves. Binding of 125I-labelled bovine GH to hepatic membranes of neonatal calves was low at birth (specific binding; 1·56 ±0·29% n=3). Somatotrophic binding was apparent at 6 weeks (6·43 ±0·42%, n = 3) and increased (9·2± 1·1%, n=3) at the age of 12 weeks. Thus the early postnatal changes in plasma IGF-I may reflect the transition from GH-independent to GH-dependent IGF-I secretion. Plasma concentrations of insulin at birth correlated with IGF-I (r = 0·54, P<0·05). However, regression analysis suggested no effect of insulin on birth weight independent of IGF-I. Plasma insulin levels rose gradually until weaning and thereafter were significantly (P<0·01) higher in the milk- than concentratefed calves. Major changes in plasma concentrations of IGF-I related to monogastric (milk feeding) or ruminant (concentrate feeding) nutrition of the young calf are demonstrated. They may be mediated through changing plasma insulin concentrations. An age-dependent prepubertal rise in plasma IGF-I apparently independent of nutritional factors commenced with the appearance of functional somatotrophic receptors in the liver. J. Endocr. (1988) 119, 43–50