Interpretive Summary: Insulin signaling and antioxidant proteins in adipose tissue explants from dairy cows challenged with hydrogen peroxide are altered by supplementation of arginine or arginine plus methionine

By: Nana Ma, Yusheng Liang, Fabiana F Cardoso, Claudia Parys, Felipe C Cardoso, Xiangzhen Shen, Juan J Loor

In nonruminants, oxygen-derived free-radicals such as hydrogen peroxide produced during stressful events impair insulin responsiveness including glucose uptake, protein synthesis, and fatty acid metabolism. Arginine and methionine supply induce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses during stressful conditions. We studied the acute effect of arginine supplementation alone or combined with methionine on protein abundance in adipose tissue explants from lactating Holstein cows challenged with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide reduced protein abundance of key insulin and amino acid signaling proteins. Most pronounced and positive effects were detected with arginine alone, restoring abundance of key target proteins including those involved in glucose, amino acid, and glutathione metabolism. Potential benefits of enhanced post-ruminal arginine supply during stressful periods such as the transition into lactation merit further study.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.