Functional state of the liver in cows with fatty liver disease
Abstract
V. V. Vlizlo*, O. I. Prystupa, L. G. Slivinska, B. O. Lukashchuk, Shan Hu, B. V. Gutyj*, I. A. Maksymovych, A. R. Shcherbatyy, M. G. Lychuk, B. O. Chernushkin, M. I. Leno, V. I. Rusyn, M. P. Drach, V. L. Fedorovych, H. O. Zinko and V. Y. Yaremchuk
Studies in dairy farms have shown that the leading causes of fatty liver disease were violations of the structure of rations, imbalance of feeding on the primary nutrients, and biologically active substances. The study was performed on cows aged 4–5 years with productivity for the previous lactation of 5,600–7,500 L of milk, in a winter-stall period of keeping, 2–3 weeks after calving. According to clinical and biochemical blood tests, two groups of cows were formed – 50 clinically healthy and 50 cows with fatty liver disease. Clinically, the disease was manifested in general and in some cows by typical symptoms. The blood serum of all cows with fatty liver disease established a decrease in albumin content, indicating impaired protein synthesis function of the liver. Dystrophic changes in hepatocytes, irritation of reticuloendothelial system cells by exotoxins and endotoxins, which accumulate during liver damage, cause the excessive formation of globulins, increased content of total serum protein, and the development of dysproteinemia. In the blood of all cows with the fatty liver disease increases the concentration of bile acids. The formation, absorption, conjugation, and excretion of bilirubin in the bile is disturbed, which causes the accumulation of total and conjugated bilirubin in the serum of cows. The cholesterol content in the blood of cows decreased, caused a violation of the esterification of its esters by hepatocytes. The established changes in the content of bile acids, total and conjugated bilirubin, and cholesterol in the blood of sick cows indicate a violation of bile secretion, bile production, and cholestasis development. In some cows with fatty liver disease, urea formation function and carbohydrate function are impaired, leading to a decrease in blood urea content and glucose.