Production of 15-F2t-isoprostane as an assessment of oxidative stress in dairy cows at different stages of lactation

Oxidative stress contributes to dysfunctional immune responses and predisposes dairy cattle to several metabolic and inflammatory-based diseases. Although the negative effects of oxidative stress on transition cattle are well established, biomarkers that accurately measure oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules are not well defined in veterinary medicine. Measuring 15-F2t-isoprostane, a lipid peroxidation product, is the gold standard biomarker for quantifying oxidative stress in human medicine. The aim of our study was to determine whether changes in 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations in plasma and milk could accurately reflect changes in oxidant status during different stages of lactation. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations were quantified in milk and plasma of 12 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows that were assigned to 3 different sampling periods, including the periparturient period (1-2 d in milk; n = 4), mid lactation (80-84 d in milk; n = 4), and late lactation (183-215 d in milk; n = 4). Blood samples also were analyzed for indicators of oxidant status, inflammation, and negative energy balance. Our data revealed that 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations changed at different stages of lactation and coincided with changes in other gauges of oxidant status in both plasma and milk. Interestingly, milk 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations and other indices of oxidant status did not follow the same trends as plasma values at each stage of lactation. Indeed, during the periparturient period, systemic 15-F2t-isoprostane increased significantly accompanied by an increase in the systemic oxidant status index. Milk 15-F2t-isoprostane was significantly decreased during the periparturient period compared with other lactation stages in conjunction with a milk oxidant status index that trended lower during this period. The results from this study indicate that changes in 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations in both milk and plasma may be strong indicators of an alteration in redox status both systemically and within the mammary gland.