Reduced fatty acid synthesis and desaturation due to exogenous trans10, cis12-CLA in cows fed oleic or linoleic oil

To determine effects of an elevated supply of cis9, trans11-18: 2 (9/11CLA) or trans10, cis12-18: 2 (10/ 12CLA) on de novo synthesis and desaturation of long-chain fatty acids, four Holstein cows fed high-oleic sunflower (OLE) or high-linoleic safflower oil (LIN) at 2.5% of DM were infused (0.625 g/h) with 9/11CLA or 10/ 12CLA for 48 h via the abomasum. Treatments were assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The assigned diets were fed for 11 d before each 48-h infusion period. Milk samples were obtained at 12 and 0 h before infusion and at 12-h intervals from 0 to 96 h. Concentrations of trans11-18: 1 and 18: 2n-6 in arterial plasma phospholipid, triglyceride, and FFA fractions were greater due to feeding LIN compared with OLE. Infused 9/11CLA and 10/ 12CLA were incorporated into plasma triglycerides and FFA primarily. Exogenous 10/ 12CLA also was found in plasma phospholipids. Milk yield and DMI were not affected by treatments. Percentages and yields of protein, lactose, and SNF in milk also were not affected by treatments. Milk fat percentage and yield, however, decreased 25% from 0 to 96 h in response to infusion of 10/ 12CLA compared with 9/11CLA. Yields of trans11-18: 1, 9/11CLA and 18: 2n-6 in milk fat before infusion were higher when LIN was fed compared with OLE. Infusion of 9/11CLA, regardless of diet, increased 9/11CLA in milk fat by 44%. Although 10/ 12CLA was not detectable in milk fat before infusion, it averaged 6 mg/g of total fatty acids and 2 g/d after 48 h. At 48 h, recovery in milk of infused 9/11CLA was 16% compared with 8% for 10/ 12CLA. Yields of saturated 6: 0 to 16: 0, cis9-18:1,9/11CLA, and 20: 4n-6 were reduced by 10/ 12CLA infusion. Due to a 40% increase in the concentration of 18: 0 by 48 h of 10/ 12CLA infusion, however, yield of 18: 0 was not affected. Ratios of cis9-18: 1/18:0,9/11CLA/trans11-18:1, and 20: 4n-6/18:2n-6 in milk fat decreased in response to infusion of 10/ 12CLA, regardless of diet. At peak concentration of 10/ 12CLA, reductions in cis9-18: 1 and saturated 4: 0-16:0 yields accounted for 36% and 53% of the decrease in total fatty acid yield. Results indicated 10/ 12CLA alters lipid metabolism in the bovine mammary gland by simultaneously reducing de novo synthesis and desaturation. Furthermore, milk triglyceride synthesis may have a stringent requirement for endogenously synthesized oleic acid.