Prezotto Ligia D, Keane Jessica A, Cupp Andrea S, Thorson Jennifer F
Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3940 Fair Street, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908, USA.
U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Oct 12;13(20):3185. doi: 10.3390/ani13203185.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been identified in multiple mammalian species as a molecular marker of energy metabolism while also providing negative feedback to the gonads. However, the role of FGF21 in regulating the energetic and reproductive physiology of beef heifers and cows has yet to be characterized. Herein, we investigated the temporal concentrations of FGF21 in female beef cattle from the prepubertal period to early lactation. Circulating concentrations of FGF21, non-esterified fatty acids, plasma urea nitrogen, glucose, and progesterone were assessed. Ultrasonography was employed to determine the onset of puberty and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity as well as to measure backfat thickness. Finally, cows and calves underwent the weigh-suckle-weigh technique to estimate rate of milk production. We have revealed that FGF21 has an expansive role in the physiology of female beef cattle, including pubertal onset, adaptation to nutritional transition, rate of body weight gain, circulating markers of metabolism, and rate of milk production. In conclusion, FGF21 plays a role in physiological functions in beef cattle that can be applied to advance the understanding of basic scientific processes governing the nutritional regulation of reproductive function but also provides a novel means for beef cattle producers to select parameters of financial interest.
成纤维细胞生长因子21（FGF21）在多种哺乳动物物种中已被确定为能量代谢的分子标志物，同时也对性腺产生负反馈。然而，FGF21在调节肉牛小母牛和母牛的能量及生殖生理方面的作用尚未得到明确。在此，我们研究了从青春期前到泌乳早期的雌性肉牛中FGF21的时间浓度。评估了FGF21、非酯化脂肪酸、血浆尿素氮、葡萄糖和孕酮的循环浓度。采用超声检查来确定青春期的开始和产后卵巢周期性的恢复，并测量背部脂肪厚度。最后，对母牛和小牛进行称重-哺乳-称重技术以估计产奶率。我们发现FGF21在雌性肉牛的生理过程中具有广泛作用，包括青春期开始、对营养过渡的适应、体重增加率、代谢循环标志物以及产奶率。总之，FGF21在肉牛的生理功能中发挥作用，这不仅有助于推进对生殖功能营养调节基本科学过程的理解，也为肉牛生产者选择具有经济利益的参数提供了一种新方法。
