J. Vet. Med. A 44, 91-97 (1997) © 1997 Blackwell Wissenschafts· Verlag, Berlin ISSN 0931-184X Clinkfor Diseases of Cattle, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannooer, Germa'!J' Plasma and Liver a-tocopherol in Dairy Cows with Left Abomasal Displacement and Fatty Liver P. MUDRON',j. REHAGE 2. H.·P. SALLMANN 3 , M. MERTENS 2, H. SCHOLZ 2 and G. KOVAd Addresses of authors: 'Clinic of Internal Medicine (Ruminants and Swine), Veterinary University, Komenskeho 73, 08141 Kosice, Slovakia; 2Clinic for Diseases of Cattle, School ofVc:terinary Medicine, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany; 3Department of Physiological Chemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bunreweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany lflith5 tables (Receivedfor publication AI/gust 15, 1996) Summary Thirty dairy cows with left abomasal displacement (LAD) and 14 healthy control cows were studied to assess the status of the natural antioxidant vitamin E, lipid peroxidation in the liver (malondialdehyde- formation) and its relationship to hepatic lipidosis.Blood concentrations of lX.tocopherol, aminotransferase, glutamin dehydrogenase, free fattyacids, P-hydroxybutyrate and glucose were determined. IX-tocopherol, tryglyceride,glycogen and malondialdehyde (MDA) in wet liver tissue samples were examined. The dietary lX.tocopherol intake and its plasma changes in LDA cows were alsoinvestigated. Cows were divided into four groups according to their liver triglyceride contents « 20; 20-80; > 80 mg/g of fresh tissue; and control groups). The lowest plasma vitamin E and the highest liver vitamin E levels were found in cows with highest hepatic triglyceride content. The highest increase in plasma n-eocopherol within 5 days was seen in cows with the lowest liver triglyceride (P < 0.01). The liver triglyceride was positively correlated with liver MDA (r = 0.38; P < 0.05) and negativelywith plasma lX.tocopherol (r = -0.41; P < 0.01). Introduction Moderate to severe fatty liver is common in high producing dairy cows during the first weeks after parturition. This period is characterised by a depressed energy intake resulting in a increased mobilisation of peripheral fat and development offatty liver (WEST, 1989; STOBER and SCHOLZ, 1991). Accumulation of fat in the liver occurs when the rate of hepatic fatty acid esterification exceeds the capacity of the liver to secrete the re-established triglycerides as part of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). Since rate of triglyceride synthesis depends on plasma free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations, fatty liver is likely to develop during periods of elevated plasma FFA (GRUMMER, 1993; VAN DEN Top et aI., 1995). A left abomasal displacement, which most commonly occurs in dairy cows during early lactation, (LOTIHAMMER, 1992) leads to a depressed feed intake, resulting in enhanced hepatic fat content (VAN MEIRHAEGHE et aI., 1988; MUYLLE et aI., 1990). Frequently cows suffering from fatty liver can develop hepatic failure (REHAGE et aI., 1992). However, it was shown that this development does not exclusively depend on the rate of simple triglyceride accumulation in the liver (MEIER, 1992). Both degenerative and necrotic changes can be involved in this process (SCHULZ, 1982). There is concern about increased liver uptake of free fatty acids eventually being associated with an acceleration of lipid peroxidation in liver tissue leading to cell death (MCCAY, 1981; SEVANIAN and HOCHSTEIN, 1985). This process can be promoted jf the provision of antioxidants is not sufficient (TIEN and AUST, 1982). HIDIROGLOU and HARTIN (1982) measured low plasma vitamin E levels in dairy cows U.S. Copyrighl Clearance Center Code Sraremenn 0931-184X/971 4402-0091 $14.0010