Investigating mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 and leptin in the interplay of metabolic adaptation and inflammatory response of dairy cows during the peripartum period

Francesca Arfuso¹Federica Arrigo^1*Maria Rizzo¹Giulia Sisia¹Enrico Fiore²Claudia Gianetto¹Luigi Liotta¹Giuseppe Piccione¹Vincenzo Lopreiato¹

• ¹Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
• ²Department of Animal Medicine, Productions and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Padova, Italy

This study investigated key metabolic markers and inflammatory responses in 10 Simmental cows during the peripartum period. Blood samples were collected at various stages surrounding calving, and plasma concentrations of leptin, mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, total cholesterol, β-OH-butyric acid (BHB), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were measured. Results indicated a decline in UCP1 from prepartum to calving, followed by a rise until three weeks postpartum. Leptin levels decreased prepartum and stabilized post-calving. IL-6 peaked at -7 days, while TNFα was elevated at -21 and -7 days compared to calving and subsequent days. Glucose levels were higher at -21 and -7 days, and NEFA increased from -21 until calving, then decreased. Total cholesterol was lower at calving and one day postpartum compared to earlier and later measurements. Triglycerides were elevated prepartum but decreased at calving. Leptin showed a positive correlation with TNFα, glucose, and triglycerides, and a negative correlation with NEFA. UCP1 values were negatively correlated with NEFA and positively correlated with total cholesterol. These findings highlight the complex metabolic adjustments during the peripartum period in dairy cows.