Abstract. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in dogs as well as in humans. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important tool for the detection of inflammation and/or early tissue damage and is linked to obesity in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine if serum CRP levels are altered in obese dogs. Fifteen lean (control group) and 16 overweight (obese group) dogs were examined. Blood samples were collected under fasted conditions for serum determination of CRP, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and fructosamine. Results indicated that obese dogs were insulin resistant because serum insulin and insulin/ glucose ratios were higher than in lean dogs (P # 0.05). Serum CRP concentrations were lower in obese dogs than in controls (P # 0.001). C-reactive protein was negatively correlated with insulin/glucose ratio (R 5 20.42) and cholesterol (R 5 20.39; P # 0.05). Furthermore, levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fructosamine were increased in the obese group compared with the control group. Based on these results, it can be postulated that CRP production is inhibited by obesity and insulin resistance in dogs.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a influência da idade, sexo, manejo e estado gestacional sobre a atividade sérica das enzimas: aspartato aminotransferase (AST), creatina quinase (CK) e gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT) em cavalos da raça Crioula. Foram utilizados 142 eqüinos, divididos em seis grupos: potros até um ano de idade; cavalos adultos em regime de atividade livre; cavalos adultos em treinamento; machos adultos; fêmeas não gestantes; fêmeas gestantes. O valor da CK foi mais elevado em animais adultos do que em potros, o mesmo tendo ocorrido em animais em atividade livre, comparados a animais em treinamento. Fêmeas não gestantes apresentaram valores das enzimas CK e GGT maiores que os machos; o valor da CK em fêmeas gestantes foi mais elevado do que em fêmeas não gestantes. A idade, o sexo, o manejo e o estado gestacional influenciam a atividade sérica da CK, e o sexo influencia a atividade sérica da GGT.Termos para indexação: bioquímica sérica, enzimas musculares, doenças hepáticas, miopatia. AST, CK and GGT enzymes serum activities in Crioulo horsesAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of age, sex, management and pregnancy status on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) enzymes serum activities of Crioulo horses. One hundred and forty-two horses, divided into six group were analyzed: yearlings; free activity of adult horses; training adult horses; male adult horses; nonpregnant and pregnant females. The CK enzyme activity value was higher in adult horses than in yearlings, and the same result was found when comparing free activity and training horses. Nonpregnant females had higher values for CK and GGT comparing to male horses, and CK values were higher in pregnant comparing to nonpregnant females. Age, sex, management and pregnancy status influence on CK serum activity, and sex influences on GGT serum activity.Index terms: serum biochemistry, muscular enzyme, hepatic disease, myopathy. IntroduçãoOs sinais clínicos presentes em distintas alterações musculares são semelhantes e bastante inespecíficos; por isso, quando isolados, eles têm limitado valor diagnóstico, o que requer, freqüentemente, o uso de exames laboratoriais complementares. Entre as enzimas, cujas concentrações séricas devem ser determinadas quando de disfunções musculares, estão aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e a creatina quinase (CK) (Da Cás et al., 2000). Além disso, a patogenia de doenças hepáticas nos animais domésticos é muito complexa, por isso, o diagnóstico dessas enfermidades também envolve testes bioquímicos, entre os quais o uso da enzima gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT) como marcador sérico primário, para doenças do sistema hepatobiliar associadas com colestase (Tennant, 1997).A aspartato aminotransferase (AST) é uma enzima citoplasmática e mitocondrial, presente em vários tecidos como fígado, músculos esquelético e cardíaco (Tennant, 1997;Frape, 1998). Tennant (1997) salienta que em todas as espécies domésticas a atividade da AST ...

No abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are key enzymes involved in tissue remodeling. Within the ovary, they are believed to play a major role in ovulation, and have been linked to follicle atresia. To gain insight into the regulation of MMPs, we measured the effect of hormones and growth factors on MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA levels in non-luteinizing granulosa cells in serum-free culture. FSH and IGF1 both stimulated estradiol secretion and inhibited MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA abundance. In contrast, EGF and FGF2 both inhibited estradiol secretion but had no effect on MMP expression. At physiological doses, none of these hormones altered the proportion of dead cells. Although we cannot link MMP expression with apoptosis, the specific down regulation by the gonadotropic hormones FSH and IGF1 in vitro suggests that excess MMP2 and MMP9 expression is neither required nor desired for follicle development.

Brain and serum lipid peroxidation was studied in rats treated with vincristine sulphate and different doses of nandrolone decanoate. Thirty rats were distributed into six groups (n=5). The treatments were applied once a week for two weeks. Sample collection was performed in the third week. Treatments during the first week were: G1 (control) -physiologic solution, G2-vincristine sulphate (4mg/m 2 ), G3-physiologic solution, G4-physiologic solution, G5-vincristine sulphate (4mg/m 2 ), and G6-vincristine sulphate (4mg/m 2 ). In the second week, they were: G1 (control) -physiologic solution, G2-physiologic solution, G3-nandrolone decanoate (1.8mg/kg -1 ), G4-nandrolone decanoate (10mg/kg -1 ), G5-nandrolone decanoate (1.8mg/kg -1 ), and G6-nandrolone decanoate (10mg/kg -1 ). Lipid peroxidation increased with the isolated use of vincristine and nandrolone decanoate, and with vincristine associated to the highest dose of the ester as well. These results suggest that vincristine sulphate and nandrolone decanoate increase free radical production. Therapeutic dose of nandrolone decanoate when associated with vincristine sulphate proved to be beneficial, as it was able to protect the organism from damaging processes involved in free radical production.Keywords: rat, anabolic androgenic steroid, chemotherapeutic, free radicals, brain, blood serum RESUMO Este estudo teve por objetivo detectar a peroxidação lipídica presente no cérebro e no soro de ratos tratados com sulfato de vincristina e diferentes doses de decanoato de nandrolona. Trinta ratos foram distribuídos em seis grupos (n=5). Os tratamentos foram aplicados uma vez por semana, durante duas semanas, e a coleta de amostras foi realizada na terceira semana. Na primeira semana, os tratamentos consistiram de: G1(controle) -solução fisiológica; G2 -sulfato de vincristina (4mg/m 2 ); G3 -solução fisiológica; G4 -solução fisiológica; G5 -sulfato de vincristina (4mg/m 2 ) e G6 -sulfato de vincristina (4mg/m 2 ). Na segunda semana: G1(controle)-

Valores hematológicos, proteínas plasmáticas totais e fibrinogênio do cavalo crioulo-suas variações em relação ao sexo, idade e manejo * Hematological values, plasma protein and fibrinogen of criollo horse-their variation with sex, age and management

Background: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonosis of variable clinical presentation, either in systemic or cutaneous form. Clinical signs include anorexia, ophthalmopathies, and chronic kidney disease. In the state of Santa Catarina, the foci are concentrated in the capital and its adjacencies, in the east side of the state. The objective of this study is to outline the first three reported cases of CVL in the municipality of Curitibanos, since there are no reports to date in the region of the mountainous plateau, in the middle west of Santa Catarina.Cases: All dogs were treated at the Veterinary Clinic School of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Curitibanos. The animals, two males and one female, belonged to the same tutor, resided in Curitibanos, and were attended between 2016 and 2020. In the first case, attended in 2016, the complaint was of eye and skin changes about three months ago. The animal lived in an urban environment and came from Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul. On physical examination, the animal presented skin peeling, wet and crusty lesions, bloody discharge in the ears and nasal hyperkeratosis, as well as signs suggestive of uveitis. In this case, euthanasia was carried out. The second case had complaints of respiratory, eye changes, hyporexia, and polydipsia. The dog was prostrate, dehydrated, with lymphadenomegaly and respiratory disorders, compatible with bacterial pneumonia. Bilateral corneal edema confirmed uveitis. Upon return, the animal remained dehydrated with enlarged lymph nodes. In the aspiration of the lymph nodes, suggestive forms of Leishmania sp. were observed. The recommended confirmatory tests were performed, leading to a definitive diagnosis of CVL. The patient was treated with miltefosine, but later died. The third case was attended for general evaluation after a positive diagnosis for CVL during an epidemiological survey of the second case. The animal was alert, tachycardic, and tachypneic with hyperemic mucous membranes. Miltefosine-based treatment and permanent use of deltamethrin-impregnated collar were prescribed and ovariohysterectomy was carried out. The patient is clinically well. In the search for vectors, in no place or moment of search, referring to the cases, vectors for CVL were found.Discussion: It is suggested that patients 2 and 3 are autochthonous cases, whose transmission form has not been fully elucidated, and vector transmission cannot be ruled out, as well as other less common forms of transmission. For case 1, it is suggested that it is an allochthone case, probably imported from the Uruguaiana region, where the disease is endemic. The conduct of a positive result for CVL is euthanasia, with the exception of dogs that have guardians who wish to perform treatment, but not always possible due to the high cost of miltefosine, the only drug approved for dog therapy in Brazil. In the first case, the owner opted for euthanasia, since in 2016 there was no possibility of treatment. For the last two cases, a treatment cycle was performed as recommended by the guidelines. Regarding the municipality of Curitibanos, in the first case diagnosed in 2016, the animal came from Uruguaiana. In conclusion, this study aimed to report the clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to the first three patients with CVL reported in Curitibanos.

The study evaluated the effect of transportation over long distances on cattle muscle tissue of submitted to emergency slaughter in slaughterhouses in northern Tocantins, Brazil. The evaluations consisted in pH, muscle and liver glycogen, muscle histopathology and creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Animals were placed into two groups: Experimental Group (EG), consisting of 19 bovines intended for immediate emergency slaughter, and Control Group (CG), composed of 24 bovines slaughtered in accordance with the normal flow. CK and ALT levels were high in EG. AST did not differ between groups. EG showed higher muscle pH and mean of degenerate fibers, mainly on the intercostal. However, muscle and liver glycogen did not differ between groups. In conclusion, cattle transported over long distances and subjected to immediate emergency slaughter showed markedly stress condition, with changes in biochemical parameters in the muscle tissue, determined by cellular degeneration.