Effects of dietary rhIGF-I in neonatal calves on the appearance of glucose, insulin, D-xylose, globulins and gamma-glutamyl transferase in blood.

Cow colostrum is rich in insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and II, thus the dietary effects of recombinant human (rh) rhIGF-I on the newborn were of interest. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary IGF-I upon selected blood components and gut absorptive development. Calves were blocked by birth weight and fed two times per d for a total of four times with the initial restricted diet. The initial feeding was 1.5 l and the remaining three feedings were at 2 l with one of three experimental diets; 1) milk replacer plus isolated colostrum derived globulins (MR-), 2) same as 1 above plus 750 ng/ml rhIGF-I (MR+), 3) pooled cow colostrum (COL). Thereafter, all animals received only milk replacer at 5% of body weight (BW)/feeding two times per d with only treatment 2 having continued addition of 750 ng/ml rhIGF-I until experimental completion at 6 to 7 d after birth. At feeding three, animals were fed D-xylose (0.5 g/kg BW) and 5,000 U of bovine kidney membrane gamma-glutamyl transferase as indicators of gut absorptive capacity. Colostrum-fed animals received 5,000 U of natural occurring gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in the 1.5 l first feeding. Blood samples taken over time were collected and saved as frozen plasma. All diets were analyzed for nutrient composition and endogenous levels of test hormones. Colostrum fed calves had greater globulin concentration (P < 0.01) than MR- or MR+ fed calves. Recombinant hIGF-I feeding had no effect (MR- vs. MR+) upon total protein, albumin or globulin blood levels. Absorption of colostrum gamma-glutamyl transferase at first feeding resulted in a peak total blood U of 4.5% of that fed. Although enzyme absorption was greatly reduced by the third feeding (0.5% of total fed), MR+ fed calves exhibited no significant difference in enzyme absorption when compared with the controls (MR- vs. MR+). However, pharmacokinetic analysis of D-xylose absorption at the third feeding showed diet effect upon absorption of D-xylose. Dietary rhIGF-I may change development or activity of sugar transporters and also may alter absorption of macromolecules (closure) in neonatal calves.