Exogenous administration of lipids to steers alters aspects of the innate immune response to endotoxin challenge

This study examined the effects of increasing energy availability from both dextrose and lipid treatments on the pro-inflammatory response to LPS in Holstein steers. Steers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: saline at 0.5 ml/kg body weight (Control) or 50% dextrose [0.5 ml/kg body weight (Dextrose) to mimic calm cattle’s response to LPS] administered immediately prior to LPS (0.5 µg/kg body weight at 0 h) or continuous lipid emulsion infusion from −1 to 6 h [Intralipid 20% (Baxter, Deerfield, IL USA); 0.5 ml/kg/hr (Lipid) to mimic temperamental cattle]. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were greater in Lipid compared with Control and Dextrose steers. A greater decrease in the change in rectal temperature, relative to baseline, was observed in response to LPS in Dextrose in comparison to control and Lipid steers. Cortisol was greater in Lipid than Dextrose and Control steers from −0.5 to 0 h, yet decreased from 0.5 to 5.5 h relative to LPS challenge. Concentrations of IL-6 were decreased in Lipid steers compared with Dextrose and Control steers, and were decreased in Dextrose compared with Control steers post-LPS challenge. These data suggest that increasing circulating NEFA using an exogenous Lipid emulsion may modulate the pro-inflammatory response in steers.