Plasma growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor, insulin, and thyroid hormone association with body protein and fat accretion in steers undergoing compensatory gain after dietary energy restriction.

Eighteen Chianina crossbred steers were used to examine the interrelationship between hormonal status and empty body protein (EBPRT) and fat (EBFAT) accretion during an 88-d controlled realimentation (REAL; DMI was adjusted weekly on an individual BW basis) period. Body composition was determined by monitoring endogenous whole-body 40[K]. At the end of restriction (REST) and on d 31 and 59 of REAL blood samples were taken and analyzed for concentrations of growth hormone (GH), IGF-I, IGF-II, insulin (INS), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, and urea nitrogen. Depositions of EBPRT and EBFAT were decreased (P < .001) in REST (92 d) animals compared with nonrestricted (NR) controls. During REST, plasma levels of glucose, IGF-I, INS, T4, T3, and rT3 were decreased (P < .05); plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), NEFA, and GH levels were increased (P < .05), and IGF-II concentrations were similar between REST and NR steers. A transient compensatory response in BW gain and protein deposition occurred in repleted steers between d 35 and 62 of REAL. During this period, PUN levels markedly declined (P < .01) in REAL steers and glucose concentration increased (P < .01) to levels similar to those in NR controls. This response prevailed even though apparent digestible nutrients were decreased in repleted animals. During energy repletion, plasma levels of T4, T3, rT3, IGF-I, and INS were positively, and of GH was negatively, correlated with EBPRT and EBFAT gain in repleted animals. Unlike IGF-I, IGF-II was not correlated with compensatory body growth. These results suggest that compensating steers are more metabolically efficient; rapid body tissue gain occurs during a period of reduced nutrient digestibility. Additionally, plasma levels of IGF-I, GH, INS, and thyroid hormones, but not of IGF-II, are markedly affected by alteration of energy intake and are highly correlated with empty body gain and protein deposition in compensating late-maturing steers.