Hypoglycemia in Ketotic Cows

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two types of hypoglycemia have been differentiated in ketotic cows by tracer kinetics. One is associated with fasting ke- tosis and is characterized by decreases in the mass of glucose in rapid exchange with plasma glucose and in the rate of glucose transport through this pool. The other oc- curs in cows with spontaneous ketosis and is characterized by undiminished glucose transport or mass and by changes in glucose distribution. Similar changes follow insulin administration and opposite changes follow glucocorticoid administration. These differ- ences in glucose kinetics between fasting ketosis and spontaneous ketosis are comple- mented by a dozen other demonstrated dif- ferences between the two conditions, mainly concerning ruminal, hepatic and mammary metabolism. These metabolic differences suggest the desirability of distinguishing between different types of ketosis for de- signing and testing control measures.