Response of Plasma Insulin and Gastrin to Intravenous, Intraruminal and Intraduodenal Infusion of VFA in Calves

Abstract

Effect of intravenous, intraruminal and intraduodenal infusions of volatile fatty acid (VFA) on the concentration of plasma glucose, insulin and gastrin was studied using five Holstein calves (six months old). All calves were fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae. They were given acetic, propionic or butyric acid within2-5min at a dose of 1.0 (m-mol/kg body wt) for intravenous, 3.9 for intraruminal and 3.2for intraduodenal infusion, respectively. Plasma glucose levels increased after intravenous infusion of propionic and butyric acid. In the case of intraruminal infusion, only propionic acid had slight increasing effect of it. Any increases were observed when infused intraduodenally. Insulin levels increased remarkably after intravenous and intraduodenal infusions of propionic and butyric acid.Intraruminal infusion of VFA, except acetic acid, caused a small increase of it.Gastrin levels increased after intravenous infusion of propionic and butyric acid.Intraruminal infusion of these acids caused a slight but substantial increase of it. On the other hand, all VFA caused rapid increase in gastrin levels when they were infused intraduodenally and its higher levels were maintained during1-2hr after infusion.