Effect of Ergot Alkaloids on Bovine Foregut Vasculature, Nutrient Absorption, and Epithelial Barrier Function
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences Animal and Food Sciences 2013 EFFECT OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS ON BOVINE FOREGUT VASCULATURE, NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, AND EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION Andrew P. Foote [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Foote, Andrew P., "EFFECT OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS ON BOVINE FOREGUT VASCULATURE, NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, AND EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences. 18. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_etds/18 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal and Food Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless a preapproved embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s dissertation including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Andrew P. Foote, Student Dr. David L. Harmon, Major Professor Dr. David L. Harmon, Director of Graduate Studies EFFECT OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS ON BOVINE FOREGUT VASCULATURE, NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, AND EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky By Andrew P. Foote Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. D. L. Harmon, Professor of Animal Science Lexington, Kentucky 2013 Copyright © Andrew P. Foote 2013 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION EFFECT OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS ON BOVINE FOREGUT VASCULATURE, NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, AND EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION Ergot alkaloids present in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue are thought to be the causative agent of fescue toxicosis, a syndrome affecting cattle in the eastern United States. Many of the observed signs of fescue toxicosis are thought to be attributed to peripheral vasoconstriction; however, there are data indicating that ergot alkaloids can alter blood flow to the gut. An experiment was conducted using right ruminal artery and vein collected from heifers shortly after slaughter. Vessels were mounted in a multi- myograph to determine the vasoconstrictive potentials of ergot alkaloids present in E+ tall fescue. Results indicated ergot alkaloids have the potential to induce vasoconstriction of foregut vasculature. A second experiment was conducted to determine if the additional ergot alkaloids present in E+ tall fescue increase the vasoconstrictive response above that of ergovaline. Results indicated that ergovaline is the main alkaloid responsible for vasoconstriction in bovine vessels. A third study was performed to determine the effect of ergot alkaloids on ruminal epithelial blood flow in the washed rumen of steers exposed to E+ or endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue seed. Steers were dosed with seed followed by a washed rumen experiment with differing levels of ergovaline incubated in the rumen. Results indicated that E+ tall fescue seed treatment reduced ruminal epithelial blood flow. Additionally, incubating ergovaline in the rumen during the washed rumen further decreased epithelial blood flow and volatile fatty acid (VFA) absorption. A final study was conducted to determine the acute effects of ergot alkaloids on isolated rumen epithelial absorptive and barrier functions and the potential for ruminal ergovaline absorption. Results indicate that acute exposure to ergot alkaloids does not alter the absorptive or barrier function of rumen epithelium and ergovaline is absorbed from the rumen. Data from this series of experiments have shown that ergot alkaloids from E+ tall fescue can induce vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the foregut of cattle, reduce blood flow to the rumen epithelium, and decrease VFA absorption. The decrease in nutrient absorption could contribute to the observed symptoms of fescue toxicosis, including depressed growth rates and general unthriftiness. Keywords: tall fescue, fescue toxicosis, vasoconstriction, epithelial blood flow, VFA absorption Andrew P. Foote Student’s Signature July 18, 2013 Date EFFECT OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS ON BOVINE FOREGUT VASCULATURE, NUTRIENT ABSORPTION, AND EPITEHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION By Andrew P. Foote Dr. D. L. Harmon Director of Dissertation Dr. D. L. Harmon Director of Graduate Studies July 18, 2013 Date ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to the following people for their assistance in completing my dissertation: My committee including Dr. Jimmy Klotz, Dr. Kyle McLeod, Dr. Niels Kristensen, Dr. Brad Anderson, and my advisor Dr. David Harmon. These people have been essential in my research and have become great friends, The many graduate students including Dr. Vaughn Holder, Dr. Dohyung Kim, Dr. Anne Koontz, Matt Walpole, Tyler Schwaiger, Brittney Schurmann, Nicole Kenny, and many others, The laboratory technicians that assisted my including Adam Barnes, Winston Lin, Cindy Roberts, Huihua Ji, Neil Fannin, and Gillian Gratton, The many collaborators I have had including Dr. Greg Penner, Dr. Lowell Bush, Dr. Kelly Brown, and Dr. Jim Strickland, My family including my parents Roger and Elaine, and most of all, my wonderful wife Tammy. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... x Frequently Used Abbreviations ........................................................................................ xv Chapter 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. A Review of the Literature ................................................................................ 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 Tall Fescue Agronomic Qualities .................................................................................... 3 Fescue Toxicosis Syndrome in Beef Cattle ..................................................................... 6 Causative Agent ........................................................................................................... 7 Metabolism, Absorption, and Excretion of Ergot Alkaloids ..................................... 10 Ergot Alkaloid Vasoactivity .......................................................................................... 13 Ergot Alkaloids Effect on the Gastrointestinal Tract .................................................... 16 In Vitro Measures of Nutrient Flux and Epithelial Permeability .................................. 19 Chapter 3: Effect of ergot alkaloids on contractility of bovine right ruminal artery and vein .................................................................................................................................... 24 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 24 Materials and Methods .................................................................................................. 25 Animals and Tissues .................................................................................................. 25 Concentration Responses of Ergot Alkaloids ............................................................ 26 Data Collection and Analysis .................................................................................... 27 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................... 28 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................. 28 Chapter 4: Constriction of bovine vasculature caused by endophyte-infected tall fescue seed extract is similar to pure ergovaline .........................................................................