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Table 4 Concentrations of carnitine in liver biopsy, plasma and milk samples of dairy cows in the transition period and at different stages of lactation

From: Expression of genes involved in hepatic carnitine synthesis and uptake in dairy cows in the transition period and at different stages of lactation

 

3 wk prepartum

1 wk postpartum

5 wk postpartum

14 wk postpartum

P-value

Liver tissue

     

free carnitine, nmol/g wet weight

37.4b ± 4.53

55.6a ± 4.09

26.0c ± 1.76

18.2c ± 1.26

< 0.001

Plasma

     

free carnitine, μmol/L

3.82a ± 0.25

1.40c ± 0.10

2.18b ± 0.20

2.35b ± 0.17

< 0.001

carnitine esters*, μmol/L

2.07b ± 0.10

2.54a ± 0.12

2.45ab ± 0.18

1.64c ± 0.11

< 0.001

total carnitine, μmol/L

5.89a ± 0.33

3.94b ± 0.17

4.64b ± 0.32

3.99b ± 0.26

< 0.001

Milk

     

free carnitine, μmol/L

-

84.5a ± 5.92

50.3b ± 4.34

60.2b ± 2.65

< 0.001

carnitine esters*, μmol/L

-

131.1a ± 12.1

65.9b ± 6.23

41.3c ± 2.60

< 0.001

total carnitine, μmol/L

-

215.5a ± 16.6

116.2b ± 7.92

101.5b ± 3.93

< 0.001

  1. Values are mean ± SE (n = 20)
  2. a, b, c Means with different superscripts differ significantly (P < 0.05)
  3. *Sum of acetyl- and propionyl carnitine, Sum of free carnitine and carnitine esters