Weaning affects lipoprotein lipase activity and gene expression in adipose tissues and inmasseterbut not in other muscles of the calf

Abstract

The nutritional and physiological modifications that occur during the weaning period induce adaptations of tissue metabolism in all mammal species. Among the adaptations due to weaning in ruminants, the regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, one of the rate-limiting steps of fatty acid utilization by tissues, was still unknown. The present study aimed at comparing LPL activity and gene expression in the heart, seven skeletal muscles and three adipose tissue sites between two groups of seven preruminant (PR) or ruminant (R) calves having a similar age (170 d), similar empty body weight (194 kg) at slaughter, and similar net energy intake from birth onwards. Triacylglycerol content of adipose tissues was 16 % lower in R than in PR calves, (P<0·01). This could be partly the result from a lower LPL activity (-57 %, P<0·01). LPL mRNA levels were also lower in R calves (-48 % to -68 %, P<0·01) suggesting a pretranslational regulation of LPL activity. Activity and mRNA levels of LPL did not differ significantly in the heart and skeletal muscles except in themasseterin which LPL activity and mRNA levels were higher (+50 % and +120 % respectively, P<0·01) in the R calves. Regulation of LPL inmassetercould be explained by the high contractile activity of this muscle after weaning due to solid food chewing. In conclusion, weaning in the calf affects LPL activity and expression in adipose tissues, but not in skeletal muscles except themasseter.