Rumen-protected choline (RPC) was evaluated for effects on the lipid and glycogen content of the liver and metabolic variables in the blood plasma of dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein cows were allocated into two groups (RPC group with RPC supplementation and control group without RPC supplementation) 28 days before the expected calving. Cows were fed the experimental diet from 21 days before calving until day 60 of lactation. The diet of the RPC group was supplemented with 100 g/day of RPC from 21 days prepartum until calving and 200 g/day of RPC for 60 days postpartum, providing 25 and 50 g of choline, respectively. Liver samples were taken by percutaneous needle biopsy, then analysed for total lipid (TLl), triglyceride (TGl) and glycogen (GLYl) contents on days −21, +7, +35 and +60 relative to calving. Blood was collected on the same sampling days and 21 days after calving. Glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), triglyceride (TGp), total cholesterol (TCh), urea, ammonia and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined from blood samples. The TLl and TGl contents were 25.0 ± 4.3 g and 25.3 ± 3.8 g per kg wet weight (mean ± SEM), respectively, lower in the RPC group than in the control animals. No significant differences were observed in the GLYl concentrations between the two groups. However, a lower TGl: GLYl ratio was shown in the liver of cows fed the RPC diet as compared to the controls. RPC supplementation decreased BHBA while increasing TGp concentrations were shown in the blood of cows fed the RPC diet, possibly as a consequence of improved lipoprotein synthesis in, and triglyceride excretion from, the liver, together with a reduced rate of ketogenesis.
AOAC (2000): Official Methods of Analysis. 17th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.
'', in Official Methods of Analysis , (2000 ) -.
Bertics, S. J., Grummer, R. R., Cadorniga-Valino, C. and Stoddard, E. E. (1992): Effect of prepartum dry matter intake on liver triglyceride concentration and early lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 75, 1914–1922.
Stoddard E. E. , 'Effect of prepartum dry matter intake on liver triglyceride concentration and early lactation ' (1992 ) 75 J. Dairy Sci. : 1914 -1922.
Binden, D. J., Drouillard, J. S., Titgemeyer, E. C., Wessels, R. H. and Löest, C. A. (2000): Effects of ruminally protected choline and dietary fat on performance and blood metabolites of finishing heifers. J. Animal Sci. 78, 2497–2503.
Löest C. A. , 'Effects of ruminally protected choline and dietary fat on performance and blood metabolites of finishing heifers ' (2000 ) 78 J. Animal Sci. : 2497 -2503.
Brüsemeister, F. and Südekum, K. H. (2006): Rumen-protected choline for dairy cows: the in situ evaluation of a commercial source and literature evaluation of effects on performance and interactions between methionine and choline metabolism. Animal Res. 55, 93–104.
Südekum K. H. , 'Rumen-protected choline for dairy cows: the in situ evaluation of a commercial source and literature evaluation of effects on performance and interactions between methionine and choline metabolism ' (2006 ) 55 Animal Res. : 93 -104.
Cooke, R. F., Silva Del Río, N., Caraviello, D. Z., Bertics, S. J., Ramos, M. H. and Grummer, R. R. (2007): Supplemental choline for prevention and alleviation of fatty liver in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 90, 2413–2418.
Grummer R. R. , 'Supplemental choline for prevention and alleviation of fatty liver in dairy cattle ' (2007 ) 90 J. Dairy Sci. : 2413 -2418.
Dawson, R. M. C., Grime, D. W. and Lindsay, D. B. (1981): On the intensity of sheep to the almost complete microbial destruction of dietary choline before alimentary-tract absorption. Biochem. J. 196, 499–504.
Lindsay D. B. , 'On the intensity of sheep to the almost complete microbial destruction of dietary choline before alimentary-tract absorption ' (1981 ) 196 Biochem. J. : 499 -504.
Elek, P. and Husvéth, F. (2007): In situ evaluation of the ruminal stability of different choline products. Hung. J. Animal Prod. 56, 589–595.
Husvéth F. , 'In situ evaluation of the ruminal stability of different choline products ' (2007 ) 56 Hung. J. Animal Prod. : 589 -595.
Elek, P., Newbold, J. R., Gaál, T., Wágner, L. and Husvéth, F. (2008): Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation on the milk production and choline supply of periparturient dairy cows. Animal 2, 1595–1601.
Husvéth F. , 'Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation on the milk production and choline supply of periparturient dairy cows ' (2008 ) 2 Animal : 1595 -1601.
Emmanuel, B. and Kennelly, J. J. (1984): Kinetics of methionine and choline and their incorporation into plasma lipids and milk components in lactating goats. J. Dairy Sci. 67, 1912–1918.
Kennelly J. J. , 'Kinetics of methionine and choline and their incorporation into plasma lipids and milk components in lactating goats ' (1984 ) 67 J. Dairy Sci. : 1912 -1918.
Erdman, R. A. and Sharma, B. K. (1991): Effect of dietary rumen-protected choline in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 74, 1641–1647.
Sharma B. K. , 'Effect of dietary rumen-protected choline in lactating dairy cows ' (1991 ) 74 J. Dairy Sci. : 1641 -1647.
Folch, J., Lees, M. and Sloane-Stanley, G. H. (1957): A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J. Biol. Chem. 226, 497–509.
Sloane-Stanley G. H. , 'A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues ' (1957 ) 226 J. Biol. Chem. : 497 -509.
Gruffat, D., Durand, D., Graulet, B. and Bauchart, D. (1996): Regulation of VLDL synthesis and secretion in the liver. Reprod. Nut. Develop. 36, 375–389.
Bauchart D. , 'Regulation of VLDL synthesis and secretion in the liver ' (1996 ) 36 Reprod. Nut. Develop. : 375 -389.
Grummer, R. (1993): Etiology of lipid-related metabolic disorders in periparturient dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 76, 3882–3896.
Grummer R. , 'Etiology of lipid-related metabolic disorders in periparturient dairy cows ' (1993 ) 76 J. Dairy Sci. : 3882 -3896.
Guretzky, N. A. J., Carlson, D. B., Garrett, J. E. and Drackley, J. K. (2006): Lipid metabolite profiles and milk production for Holstein and Jersey cows fed rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period. J. Dairy Sci. 89, 188–200.
Drackley J. K. , 'Lipid metabolite profiles and milk production for Holstein and Jersey cows fed rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period ' (2006 ) 89 J. Dairy Sci. : 188 -200.
Hartwell, J. R., Cecava, M. J. and Donkin, S. S. (2000): Impact of dietary rumen undegradable protein and rumen protected choline on intake, periparturient liver triacylglyceride, plasma metabolites and milk production in transition cows. J. Dairy Sci. 83, 2907–2917.
Donkin S. S. , 'Impact of dietary rumen undegradable protein and rumen protected choline on intake, periparturient liver triacylglyceride, plasma metabolites and milk production in transition cows ' (2000 ) 83 J. Dairy Sci. : 2907 -2917.
Hartwell, J. R., Cecava, M. J. and Donkin, S. S. (2001): Rumen undegradable protein, rumenprotected choline and mRNA expression for enzymes in gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis in periparturient dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 84, 490–497.
Donkin S. S. , 'Rumen undegradable protein, rumenprotected choline and mRNA expression for enzymes in gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis in periparturient dairy cows ' (2001 ) 84 J. Dairy Sci. : 490 -497.
Piepenbrink, M. S. and Overton, T. R. (2000): Liver metabolism and production of periparturient dairy cattle fed rumen-protected choline. J. Dairy Sci. 83 (Suppl. 1), 257.
Overton T. R. , 'Liver metabolism and production of periparturient dairy cattle fed rumen-protected choline ' (2000 ) 83 J. Dairy Sci. : 257 -.
Piepenbrink, M. S. and Overton, T. R. (2003a): Interrelationship of hepatic palmitate and propionate metabolism, liver composition, blood metabolites, and cow performance. J. Dairy Sci. 86 (Suppl. 1), 148.
Overton T. R. , 'Interrelationship of hepatic palmitate and propionate metabolism, liver composition, blood metabolites, and cow performance ' (2003 ) 86 J. Dairy Sci. : 148 -.
Piepenbrink, M. S. and Overton, T. R. (2003b): Liver metabolism and production of cows fed increasing amounts of rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period. J. Dairy Sci. 86, 1722–1733.
Overton T. R. , 'Liver metabolism and production of cows fed increasing amounts of rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period ' (2003 ) 86 J. Dairy Sci. : 1722 -1733.
Piepenbrink, M. S. and Overton, T. R. (2003c): Hepatic palmitate metabolism of periparturient dairy cows as affected by nutrients supplied in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. 86 (Suppl. 1), 220.
Overton T. R. , 'Hepatic palmitate metabolism of periparturient dairy cows as affected by nutrients supplied in vitro ' (2003 ) 86 J. Dairy Sci. : 220 -.
Pinotti, L., Baldi, A., Politis, I., Rebucci, R., Sangalli, L. and Dell’Orto, V. (2003): Rumenprotected choline administration to transition cows: Effect on milk production and vitamin E status. J. Vet. Med. A 50, 18–21.
Dell’Orto V. , 'Rumenprotected choline administration to transition cows: Effect on milk production and vitamin E status ' (2003 ) 50 J. Vet. Med. A : 18 -21.
Puchala, R., Sahlu, T., Davis, J. J. and Hart, S. P. (1997): Effects of jugular infusion of choline and betaine on blood parameters in angora goats. J. Anim. Sci. 75 (Suppl. 1), 274.
Hart S. P. , 'Effects of jugular infusion of choline and betaine on blood parameters in angora goats ' (1997 ) 75 J. Anim. Sci. : 274 -.
Sharma, B. K. and Erdman, R. A. (1989): Effects of dietary and abomasally infused choline on milk production responses of lactating dairy cows. J. Nutr. 119, 248–254.
Erdman R. A. , 'Effects of dietary and abomasally infused choline on milk production responses of lactating dairy cows ' (1989 ) 119 J. Nutr. : 248 -254.
Strang, B. D., Bertics, S. J., Grummer, R. R. and Armentano, L. E. (1998): Effect of long-chain fatty acids on triglyceride accumulation, gluconeogenesis, and ureagenesis in bovine hepatocytes. J. Dairy Sci. 81, 728–739.
Armentano L. E. , 'Effect of long-chain fatty acids on triglyceride accumulation, gluconeogenesis, and ureagenesis in bovine hepatocytes ' (1998 ) 81 J. Dairy Sci. : 728 -739.
Van den Top, A. M., Wensing, T. and Beynen, A. C. (1994): The influence of calcium palmitate and oleate feeding on hepatic lipid metabolism in dry goats. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 72, 44–55.
Beynen A. C. , 'The influence of calcium palmitate and oleate feeding on hepatic lipid metabolism in dry goats ' (1994 ) 72 J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. : 44 -55.
Zahra, L. C., Duffield, T. F., Leslie, K. E., Overton, T. R., Putnam, D. and LeBlanc, S. J. (2006): Effects of rumen-protected choline and monensin on milk production and metabolism of periparturient dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 89, 4808–4818.
LeBlanc S. J. , 'Effects of rumen-protected choline and monensin on milk production and metabolism of periparturient dairy cows ' (2006 ) 89 J. Dairy Sci. : 4808 -4818.
Zeisel, S. H., Da Costa, K. A., Franklin, P. D., Alexander, E. A., Lamont, J. T., Sheard, N. F. and Beiser, A. (1991): Choline, an essential nutrient for humans. J. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 5, 2093–2098.
Beiser A. , 'Choline, an essential nutrient for humans ' (1991 ) 5 J. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. : 2093 -2098.
Zhu, L. H., Armentano, L. E., Bremmer, D. R., Grummer, R. R. and Bertics, S. J. (2000): Plasma concentration of urea, ammonia, glutamine around calving, and the relation of hepatic triglyceride, to plasma ammonia removal and blood acid-base balance J. Dairy Sci. 83, 734–740.
Bertics S. J. , 'Plasma concentration of urea, ammonia, glutamine around calving, and the relation of hepatic triglyceride, to plasma ammonia removal and blood acid-base balance J ' (2000 ) 83 Dairy Sci. : 734 -740.
Zom, R. L. G., Van Baal, J., Goselink, R. M. A., Bakker, J. A., De Veth, M. J. and Van Vuuren, A. M. (2011): Effect of rumen-protected choline on performance, blood metabolites, and hepatic triacylglycerols of periparturient dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 94, 4016–4027.
Vuuren A. M. , 'Effect of rumen-protected choline on performance, blood metabolites, and hepatic triacylglycerols of periparturient dairy cattle ' (2011 ) 94 J. Dairy Sci. : 4016 -4027.