Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2016, 8th- 10th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. III, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Goat, Lipidic metabolism, 

Inflammation, Gene expression, 

Peripartum, Adipose tissue, 

Lipidic integration 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Alessandro Agazzi 

alessandro.agazzi@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Transcriptional regulation of lipid 

metabolism and inflammation in transition 

dairy goats by fish oil and stearate. 

 

G. Farinaa, A. Agazzi*a, G. Invernizzia, A. Campagnolia, J.J. Loorb, G. 

Savoini1 

 

 

aDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie per la Salute, la Produzione Animale e la 
Sicurezza Alimentare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy 

bDepartment of Animal Sciences, UIUC, Illinois, USA. 

 

 
Abstract 

To better understand the interaction between saturated or unsaturated fatty acids and its effect on 

expression of genes involved in subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism, 23 second parity alpine dairy 

goats were enrolled in the experiment and fed either a non fat-supplemented basal diet (C; n=8), the 

basal diet supplemented with stearic acid (ST; n=7) or the basal diet supplemented with fish oil (FO; 

n=8). 30g/head/d supplemental fatty acids during the dry period and 50g/head/d during lactation were 

delivered starting one week before parturition up to 21 days in milk. Subcutaneous adipose tissue 

samples were harvested at day -7, 7 and 21 relative to kidding and mRNA levels of genes involved in 

inflammation were measured via qPCR. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. No 

significant effects for treatment were observed, however eight genes were significant for time. HP and 

SAA3 expression peaked at day 7 postpartum, to then return at prepartum level around 21 d relative to 

kidding, while IL8, IL10, and IL18 expression constantly increased along the transition period. Vice versa, 

expression of IL1β, IL6R, and RXRA decreased in response to kidding, with a subsequent increase at day 

21. The obtained results led us to hypothesize that goats face a postponed lipomobilization after 

kidding, probably related to their reduced production. The next step will involve the analysis of miRNA 

related to immune cell infiltration, adipocyte inflammation and lipolysis and positive regulation of 

adipogenesis to better understand the complex network of lipid metabolism in periparturient goats. 
 

References 

Agazzi A., Cattaneo, D., Dell’Orto, V., Moroni, P., Bonizzi, L.,  Pasotto, D., and Savoini, G., 2004. Effect of administration of fish oil on aspects of cell-

mediated immune response in periparturient dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research. 55, 77-83. 

Calder, P.C., and Grimble, R.F., 2002. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation and immunity. Europ. J. Clincal Nutr. 56, S14-S19. 

Invernizzi, G., Corbani, D., Caputo, J.M., Campagnoli, A., Pisani, L.F., Bronzo, V., Agazzi, A., Modina, S., and Savoini, G., 2012. Dietary fatty acids on 

subcutaneous adipose tissue modulation in transition dairy goats. Page 312 in Proc. XI International Conference on Goats, Gran Canaria, Spain. 

Mallard, B.A., Dehhers, J.C., Ireland, M.J., Leslie, K.E., Sharif, S., Lacey Vankampen, C., Wagter, L., and Wilkie, B.N., 1998. Alteration in immune 

responsiveness during the peripartum period and its ramification on dairy cow and calf health. Journal of Dairy Science. 81, 585–594. 

 

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