Glucose Homoeostasis and Regulation in Lactating Mink ( Mustela vison ): Effects of Dietary Protein, Fat and Carbohydrate Supply

• Published in: Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Animal science, 2002, Vol.52 (2), p.102-111
• Main Authors: Fink, Rikke, Børsting, Christian Friis, Damgaard, Birthe Marie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy Ratio; Glucagon; Glucose; Insulin; Urea
• ISSN: 0906-4702; 1651-1972
• DOI: 10.1080/09064700212069

The ability of lactating mink dams to control glucose homoeostasis, when fed diets containing different ratios of metabolizable energy (ME) from protein, fat and carbohydrates, was studied by measuring plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, urea and free fatty acids (FFA), in the fasted and absorptive state 4 weeks postpartum, in two consecutive years. A total of 36 yearling female mink, fitted with jugular vein catheters and raising litters of six or seven kits, was fed ad libitum lactation diets with different amounts of ME derived from protein, fat and carbohydrates (year 1:61:37:2, 46:37:17 and 31:37:32; year 2:61:38:1, 47:52:1 and 33:66:1). After 3 h fasting the dams were fed 210 kJ ME of the experimental diets. Blood samples were drawn 10 and 5 min before feeding and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min postprandially. The glucose concentration was increased 30 to 150 min postprandially in dams fed the carbohydrate-containing diets (46:37:17 and 31:37:32), whereas the glucose concentration showed no postprandial response in dams fed the carbohydrate-free diets (61:38:1, 47:52:1 and 33:66:1). Plasma insulin concentrations were increased 30 to 120 min postprandially in all dams, irrespective of dietary treatment. Plasma concentrations of glucagon were higher ( P