Phosphorus content of muscle tissue and muscle function in dairy cows fed a phosphorus-deficient diet during the transition period

Phosphorus (P) deficiency and hypophosphatemia are believed to be associated with muscle function disturbances in dairy cows, particularly around parturition. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary P deprivation during late gestation and early lactation on muscle P homeostasis and muscle function in periparturient dairy cows. Thirty-six multiparous dairy cows in late gestation were randomly assigned either to undergo dietary P depletion or to be offered a diet with adequate P content from 4 wk before to 4 wk after parturition. Phosphorus-deficient rations for dry and lactating cows contained 0.15 and 0.20% P on a dry matter basis, respectively. Blood and muscle tissue for biopsy were obtained and electromyographic examinations were conducted on biceps femoris and intercostal muscles in regular intervals throughout the study. Muscle tissue was analyzed for the total P, adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, creatine phosphate, and tissue water content. Dietary P deprivation resulted in a pronounced and sustained decline of the plasma phosphate concentration, reaching a nadir at calving with mean values below 1.5 mg/dL and remaining below 2.0 mg/dL during the first 4 wk of lactation. Hypophosphatemia was not associated with signs of clinically apparent muscle weakness or disturbed muscle function and was not associated with a decline in the content of any of the studied P-containing compounds in muscle tissue. Accordingly, no association between plasma phosphate concentration and muscle tissue P content was found. Electromyographic examination identified subclinical effects on motor unit action potentials that are indicative of disturbed neuromuscular functionality. Increasing occurrence of pathologic spontaneous activity possibly resulting from membrane instability of nerve or muscle cells and suggestive of myopathy was also recorded as P deprivation progressed. These effects were predominantly observed in intercostal and to a lesser degree biceps femoris muscles. Electromyographic parameters affected by P deprivation were found to be associated primarily with the plasma phosphate and to a lesser extent with the amounts of energy storing P-containing compounds contained in muscle tissue. These results indicate that prolonged and pronounced dietary P deprivation in transition dairy cows leads to marked sustained hypophosphatemia without altering the muscle tissue P homeostasis or causing clinically apparent muscle function disturbances.