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In a number of studies the feeding of pharmacological levels of Zinc to weanling pigs was examined. The publications agree in the fact that the achieved performance increase of the pigs depends on the amount of Zinc as well as on the type of mineral complex used as feed additive. The results are based on measurements of the animals' body weight and the Zinc concentration in the blood within the first two weeks of the experiments. From the measurement values, conclusions are drawn about adequate Zinc doses, but a deeper understanding of the physiological processes that influence the Zinc distribution in the organism is still missing. In this report, we want to close this gap by using a systems biology approach. We present a small mathematical model that describes the organic feedback mechanisms with the help of differential equations. The simulation results not only match with measurement values, but also give insight into non-measurable processes, which will hopefully contribute to animal experiments being organized in a more selective and reduced way.
Potassium is fundamental for cell functioning including signal transduction, acid-base- and water-metabolism.
Since diet of dairy cows is generally rich in potassium, hypokalemia was not in the focus of research for long time. Furthermore, hypokalemia was not frequently diagnosed because blood potassium content is difficult to measure. In recent years, measurement methods have been improved. Nowadays hypokalemia is increasingly diagnosed in cows with disorders such as abomasal displacement, ketosis or down cow syndrome, calling for intensified research on this topic.
In this report we describe the development of a basic mechanistic, dynamic model of potassium balance based on ordinary differential and algebraic equations. Parameter values are obtained from data of a clinical trial in which potassium balance and the influence of therapeutic intervention in glucose and electrolyte metabolism on potassium balance in non-lactating dairy cows were studied. The model is formulated at a high abstraction level and includes information and hypotheses from literature. This work represents a first step towards the understanding and design of effective prophylactic feed additives and treatment strategies.
High-performing dairy cows require a particular composition of nutritional ingredients, adapted to their individual requirements and depending on their production status. The optimal dimensioning of minerals in the diet, one being potassium, is indispensable for the prevention of imbalances. Potassium balance in cows is the result of potassium intake, distribution in the organism, and excretion, and it is closely related to glucose and electrolyte metabolism. In this paper, we present a dynamical model for potassium balance in lactating and nonlactating dairy cows based on ordinary differential equations. Parameter values were obtained from clinical trial data and from the literature. To verify the consistency of the model, we present simulation outcomes for 3 different scenarios: potassium balance in (1) nonlactating cows with varying feed intake, (2) nonlactating cows with varying potassium fraction in the diet, and (3) lactating cows with varying milk production levels. The results give insights into the short- and long-term potassium metabolism, providing an important step toward the understanding of the potassium network, the design of prophylactic feed additives, and possible treatment strategies.
To counteract the antagonistic relationship between milk yield and fertility in dairy cow, a
deeper understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms is required. For this purpose,
we study physiological networks related to reproduction and metabolism in dairy cows. We
interactively develop dynamic, mechanistic models by fitting the models to experimental data
and mechanistic knowledge. We have already developed models for potassium balance and
hormonal regulation of fertility in the dairy cow, which will briefly be reviewed here. The main
focus of this article is a glucose-insulin model currently developed by us. This model links the
bovine hormonal cycle and the potassium balance to glucose and thus to energy metabolism.
The models can be applied in scientific research, education, experimental planning, drug
development and production on farms.
Lactating dairy cows require a particular composition of nutritional ingredients depending on their production status.
The optimal supply of energy and minerals in diet, one of them potassium, is indispensable for the prevention of disbalances like hypokalemia or hypoglycaemia.
Potassium balance in cows is the result of potassium intake, distribution in the organism, and excretion, and closely interacts with glucose and electrolyte metabolism, in which postpartum veterinary treatments frequently intervene.
We present a mechanistic, dynamic model for potassium balance together with a glucose insulin model in non-lactating and lactating dairy cows based on ordinary differential equations.
Parameter values were obtained from data of a clinical trial as well as from literature. To verify the mechanistic functioning of the model, we validate the model by comparing simulation outcomes with clinical study findings. Furthermore we perform numerical experiments and compare them with expected behaviour according to mechanistic knowledge. The results give insight into the dynamic behaviour of the network and open the way for further open questions and hypothesis to be tested.
High performing dairy cows require a particular composition of nutritional ingredients, adapted to their individual requirements and depending on their production status. The optimal dimensioning of minerals in the diet, one of them being potassium, is indispensable for the prevention of imbalances. The potassium balance in cows is the result of potassium intake, distribution in the organism, and excretion, it is closely related with the glucose and electrolyte metabolism. In this paper, we present a dynamical model for the potassium balance in lactating and non-lactating dairy cows based on ordinary differential equations. Parameter values are obtained from clinical trial data and from the literature. To verify the consistency of the model, we present simulation outcomes for three different scenarios: potassium balance in (i) non-lactating cows with varying feed intake, (ii) non-lactating cows with varying potassium fraction in the diet, and (iii) lactating cows with varying milk production levels. The results give insights into the short and long term potassium metabolism, providing an important step towards the understanding of the potassium network, the design of prophylactic feed additives, and possible treatment strategies.
Boolean delay equations (BDEs), with their relatively simple and intuitive mode of
modelling, have been used in many research areas including, for example, climate
dynamics and earthquake propagation. Their application to biological systems has been
scarce and limited to the molecular level. Here, we derive and present two BDE models.
One is directly derived from a previously published ordinary differential equation
(ODE) model for the bovine estrous cycle, whereas the second model includes a
modification of a particular biological mechanism. We not only compare the simulation
results from the BDE models with the trajectories of the ODE model, but also validate
the BDE models with two additional numerical experiments. One experiment induces
a switch in the oscillatory pattern upon changes in the model parameters, and the
other simulates the administration of a hormone that is known to shift the estrous
cycle in time. The models presented here are the first BDE models for hormonal
oscillators, and the first BDE models for drug administration. Even though automatic
parameter estimation still remains challenging, our results support the role of BDEs
as a framework for the systematic modelling of complex biological oscillators.