Effect of genetic resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes on plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 and leptin in Merino sheep
S. M. Liu A D , N. R. Adams A , J. B. Briegel A , T. L. Smith A B and G. B. Martin CA CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
B Present address: School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Level 4, Administration Building, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia.
C Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences M082, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: shimin.liu@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(8) 905-911 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06253
Submitted: 1 September 2006 Accepted: 23 February 2007 Published: 16 July 2007
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep changes the nutritional economy of the host, but little is known about the effects of infection on the hormonal systems that regulate the metabolism of the animal. This study examined two key hormones, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and leptin, in genetically resistant and random bred control Merino sheep in the presence or absence of nematode infection. Sixty-four 10-month-old Rylington Merino wethers, half from the parasite-resistant line and half from unselected control line, were initially maintained at two body conditions (body condition scores averaged 1.7 and 2.5) in individual pens in an animal house. The animals were kept parasite-free for 9 weeks, then ‘trickle-infected’ with Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae, each at a rate of 10 000 per week, for 13 weeks. Each body condition score group was subdivided into two groups at the beginning of the infection procedure and feed supply was controlled at 1× or 1.5× the maintenance metabolisable energy requirement. Plasma IGF-1 concentrations decreased marginally by day 21 of infection, then markedly by day 49, and then remained low until day 84. Plasma leptin concentrations tended to increase during the infection period. Both body condition and feed intake had significant effects on IGF-1 and leptin concentrations, and the higher concentrations were related to the good body condition or high feed intake. The parasite-resistant sheep had consistently higher concentrations of IGF-1 compared with the controls, whereas the concentrations of leptin were similar. The significant changes in IGF-1 but not leptin suggest that infection may have a more significant impact on protein anabolism, and least impact on lipid metabolism. Selection for parasite resistance appears to result in enhanced protein anabolism.
Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank the many staff of CSIRO Livestock Industries, Floreat Laboratory, for their help in experimental activities. The sheep were kindly provided by the Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. Faecal worm egg counts were determined by the Parasitology Laboratory of the Department, and the contributions of Drs L. J. E. Karlsson, D. G. Palmer, J. C. Greeff and R. B. Besier are gratefully acknowledged. Margaret Blackberry of the School of Animal Biology of the University of Western Australia for the leptin analysis and Abdi Salah with the animal work are also acknowledged.
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