Relationship between serum adiponectin concentration, body condition score, and peripheral tissue insulin response of dairy cows during the dry period

The aim of the present study was to describe the relationship between serum adiponectin concentration and peripheral tissue insulin response in dairy cows with a variable body condition score (BCS) during the dry period. Cows were selected at the beginning of the dry period based on BCS (BCS <3.75, n = 4; BCS >3.75, n = 5). Animals were followed from the beginning of the dry period by weekly blood sampling and assessment of BCS and backfat thickness. Weekly blood samples were analyzed for adiponectin concentration using a bovine specific ELISA. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp tests were performed at the end of the dry period to measure peripheral tissue insulin response. Insulin dose response curves were established for both glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Regression analysis revealed that the serum concentrations of adiponectin dropped at the end of the dry period (P < 0.05) and were negatively associated with BCS (P < 0.05). At the level of the glucose metabolism, serum concentrations of adiponectin were positively correlated with insulin responsiveness (reflecting the maximal effect of insulin; r = 0.76, P < 0.05), but not with insulin sensitivity (reflecting the insulin concentration needed to achieve halfmaximal effect; r = −0.54, P = 0.13). At the level of the fatty acid metabolism, greater adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with lower NEFA levels during the HEC test reflecting the insulin responsiveness of the NEFA metabolism (r = −0.61, P = 0.08), whereas there was no association with the insulin sensitivity of the NEFA metabolism (r = −0.16, P = 0.67). In conclusion, serum concentrations of adiponectin were negatively associated with the BCS of dairy cows during the dry period and positively associated with insulin responsiveness of the glucose and fatty acid metabolism.