Feed restriction, but not L-carnitine infusion, affects the liver transcriptome with an evident and inhibition of energy production and sterol synthesis and increase of gluconeogenesis in mid-lactating dairy cows. Bos taurus

Feed restriction and L-carnitine infusion are known to affect the liver metabolism of dairy cows. In the present experiment the effects on liver transcriptome of feed restriction and L-carnitine abomasal infusion and the interaction of the two in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows was assessed. Data clearly indicated a lack of transcriptomics effect by L-carnitine but a strong effect due to feed restriction. The functional analysis identified a overall reduction of cholesterol synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation and data suggested an increase flux toward gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. Overall design: The liver biopsy was performed after 14 days of treatment in 8 Holstein dairy cows in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangment with 5 days washout between treatments. A dye-swap reference design (reference = mixture of RNA from several bovine tissues) was used.