Research

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy based investigation on propylene glycol toxicosis in a Holstein cow

Hanne Christine Bertram¹ , Bent Ole Petersen² , Jens Ø Duus² , Mogens Larsen³ , Birgitte-Marie L Raun³ and Niels Bastian Kristensen³

¹  Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 102, DK-5792 Årslev, Denmark

²  Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark

³  Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark

author email corresponding author email

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2009, 51:25doi:10.1186/1751-0147-51-25

Published:	13 June 2009

Abstract

Background

It is unknown which metabolites are responsible for propylene glycol (PG)-induced toxicosis, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms explaining incidences of abnormal behaviour of dairy cows fed PG is therefore needed.

Methods

The study included three cows of which one developed PG toxicosis. In order to investigate how the metabolism of PG differed in the cow developing toxicosis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied on ruminal fluids and blood plasma samples obtained before and after feeding with PG.

Results

PG toxicosis was characterized by dyspnea and ruminal atony upon intake of concentrate containing PG. The oxygen saturation of arterial blood haemoglobin and the oxygen pressure in arterial blood decreased along with the appearance of the clinical symptoms. NMR revealed differences in plasma and ruminal content of several metabolites between the cow responding abnormally to PG and the two control cows.

Conclusion

It is concluded that PG-toxicosis is likely caused by pulmonary vasoconstriction, but no unusual metabolites directly related to induction of this condition could be detected in the plasma or the ruminal fluid.