Comparison of cardiac function in double-muscled calves and in calves with conventional muscular conformation

Héléne Amory From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Héléne Amory in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Daniel J.-M. Desmecht From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Daniel J.-M. Desmecht in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Annick S. Linden From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Annick S. Linden in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Kathleen Mc Entee From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Kathleen Mc Entee in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Frédéric A. Rollin From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Frédéric A. Rollin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Jean-Marie L. Beduin From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Jean-Marie L. Beduin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Bruno C. Genicot From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Bruno C. Genicot in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM
,
Vincent D'orio From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Vincent D'orio in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 MD, PhD
, and
Pierre M. Lekeux From the Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology (Amory, Desmecht, Linden, Mc Entee, Rollin, Genicot, Lekeux) and Department of Genetics (Beduin), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Hemoliége, Faculty of Medicine (D'orio), University of Liege, Bâtiment B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgique.

Search for other papers by Pierre M. Lekeux in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DVM, PhD

Summary

During growth, central venous, right ventricular, pulmonary arterial, pulmonary capillary wedge, and systemic arterial pressures, heart rate, and cardiac output were repeatedly measured in 41 Friesian calves, considered as having conventional muscular conformation, and in 19 Belgian White and Blue double-muscled calves. A total of 123 and 70 recordings were collected in conventional and double-muscled calves, respectively. These circulatory indices were calculated: stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, pulmonary and systemic pulse pressures, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices, and right and left ventricular work indices.

Results indicated that systemic arterial and pulse pressures, as well as cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, and right and left ventricular work indices were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 to 0.001) lower but, in contrast, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices were significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher in double-muscled than in conventional calves. Right-sided vascular pressures and heart rate were similar in the 2 groups. These results indicated that global cardiac performance may be considerably poorer in double-muscled calves. Diminished cardiac performance of double-muscled calves appears to be related neither to relative bradycardia nor to reduced ventricular preload. The potential role of increased ventricular afterload or of reduced myocardial contractility in double-muscled cattle should be determined by direct measurements.

Summary

During growth, central venous, right ventricular, pulmonary arterial, pulmonary capillary wedge, and systemic arterial pressures, heart rate, and cardiac output were repeatedly measured in 41 Friesian calves, considered as having conventional muscular conformation, and in 19 Belgian White and Blue double-muscled calves. A total of 123 and 70 recordings were collected in conventional and double-muscled calves, respectively. These circulatory indices were calculated: stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, pulmonary and systemic pulse pressures, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices, and right and left ventricular work indices.

Results indicated that systemic arterial and pulse pressures, as well as cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, and right and left ventricular work indices were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 to 0.001) lower but, in contrast, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices were significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher in double-muscled than in conventional calves. Right-sided vascular pressures and heart rate were similar in the 2 groups. These results indicated that global cardiac performance may be considerably poorer in double-muscled calves. Diminished cardiac performance of double-muscled calves appears to be related neither to relative bradycardia nor to reduced ventricular preload. The potential role of increased ventricular afterload or of reduced myocardial contractility in double-muscled cattle should be determined by direct measurements.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 2575 2575 422
PDF Downloads 39 39 5
Advertisement