Effects of thyroxine and growth hormone treatment of dairy cows on mammary uptake of glucose, oxygen and other milk fat precursors

Four cows received thyroxine injections (T4; 20 mg/d) and three cows received growth hormone injections (GH, 44 mg/d) for 4 d during successive 16-d experimental periods. Milk fat, lactose output, mammary uptake of glucose, oxygen and milk fat precursors were determined with each treatment. Injection of T4 increased lactose yield by 25% and fat yield 42%. The injection of GH increased fat and lactose yields by 24%. Both GH and T4 increased mammary glucose uptake by 35% and 45%, respectively, while T4 administration was associated with an increase in plasma glucose concentration from 67 to 84%. Thyroxine, but not GH, increased the ratio of mammary glucose uptake to lactose output from 1.24 to 1.58. Blood plasma acetate concentration declined following GH and T4 treatment by 17%. Mammary acetate uptake increased in response to GH injection in two of three cows but did not change with T4 injection. The injection of GH had no effect on plasma propionate concentration or mammary uptake. Thyroxine reduced plasma propionate content and mammary uptake. Neither T4 nor GH changed plasma free fatty acid concentration or mammary uptake. Thyroxine had no effect on plasma triglyceride concentration or mammary uptake, whereas GH increased mammary triglyceride uptake to the end of the experimental period. Mammary oxygen uptake was increased by GH as milk production increased. Increased mammary oxygen uptake following T4 treatment was transient. Change in mammary metabolism with T4 treatment permitted increased milk output without change in mammary oxygen consumption. Such a change may involve increased mammary utilization of pre-formed long-chain fatty acid and increased metabolism of glucose via glycolysis.