Guinea pigs possess a highly mutated gene for L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, the key enzyme for L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis missing in this species.

Nishikimi, Morimitsu; Kawai, Tetsushi; Yagi, Kazuichi

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(19)36707-9

Cited by 131 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…A study carried out on experimentally vitamin C‐deprived guinea pig fetuses has revealed a significant reduction in cerebellar surface area due to the obliteration of fissures and the fusion of opposing folia, resulting in a macroscopically visible cerebellar dysplasia in terms of flattening of its surface, analogously to that observed in Lyssencephaly Type 2 (Čapo et al, 2015). The mentioned study is of clinical relevance in pet guinea pigs due to their natural incapability of endogenous vitamin C synthesis (Nishikimi et al, 1992), analogously to humans, resulting in the necessity of its dietary supplementation, with the risk of developing vascular as well as neurological disease in case of deprivation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design‐based stereological study of the guinea‐pig (Cavia porcellus) cerebellum

et al. 2021

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Guinea pigs have proved useful as experimental animal models in studying cerebellar anatomical and structural alterations in human neurological disease; however, they are also currently acquiring increasing veterinary interest as companion animals. The morphometric features of the normal cerebellum in guinea pigs have not been previously investigated using stereology. The objective of the present work was to establish normal volumetric and quantitative stereological parameters for cerebellar tissues in guinea pigs, by means of unbiased design‐based stereology. Cerebellar total volume, gray and white matter volume fractions, molecular and granular layers volume fractions, cerebellar surface area, Purkinje cellular and nuclear volumes, and the Purkinje cell total count were stereologically estimated. For this purpose, cerebellar hemispheres from six adult male guinea pigs were employed. Isotropic, uniform random sections were obtained by applying the orientator method, and subsequently processed for light microscopy. The cerebellar total volume, the white and grey matter volume fractions, and the molecular and granular layer volumes were estimated using the Cavalieri's principle and the point counting system. The cerebellar surface area was estimated through the use of test lines; Purkinje cellular and nuclear volumes were analysed using the nucleator technique, whereas the Purkinje cell total count was obtained by means of the optical disector technique. The mean ± standard deviation total volume of a guinea‐pig cerebellar hemisphere was 0.11 ± 0.01 cm3. The mean volumetric proportions occupied by the gray and white matters were, respectively, 78.0 ± 2.6% and 22.0 ± 2.6%, whereas their mean absolute volumes were found to be 0.21 ± 0.02 cm3 and 0.059 ± 0.006 cm3. The volumes of the molecular and granular layers were estimated at 112.4 ± 20.6 mm3 and 104.4 ± 7.3 mm3, whereas their mean thicknesses were calculated to be 0.184 ± 0.020 mm and 0.17 ± 0.02 mm. The molecular and granular layers accounted for 40.7 ± 3.9% and 37.4 ± 1.8% of total cerebellar volume respectively. The surface area of the cerebellum measured 611.4 ± 96.8 mm2. Purkinje cells with a cellular volume of 3210.1 µm3 and with a nuclear volume of 470.9 µm3 had a higher incidence of occurrence. The mean total number of Purkinje cells for a cerebellar hemisphere was calculated to be 253,090 ± 34,754. The morphometric data emerging from the present study provide a set of reference data which might prove valuable as basic anatomical contribution for practical applications in veterinary neurology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design‐based stereological study of the guinea‐pig (Cavia porcellus) cerebellum

et al. 2021

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“…About 60 years after the discovery of Asc by Szent-Györgyi, ( 1 ) genetic defects in the human gene encoding Gulo were characterized. ( 13 ) Among rodents, the guinea pig also carries an evolutionary defect in the Gulo gene ( 73 ) and has been utilized as a model animal for Asc function in vivo . ( 74 ) A natural mutant the Wistar rat strain, osteogenic disorder Shionogi (ODS), also carries a mutation in Gulo and develops scurvy, ( 75 ) despite it being less popular as a pathological model compared to the guinea pig.…”

Section: Animal Models With Defected Asc Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Ascorbate is a multifunctional micronutrient whose synthesis is lacking in primates

Fujii

2021

J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr.

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Ascorbate (vitamin C) is an essential micronutrient in primates, and exhibits multiple physiological functions. In addition to antioxidative action, ascorbate provides reducing power to α-ketoglutarate-dependent non-heme iron dioxygenases, such as prolyl hydroxylases. Demethylation of histones and DNA with the aid of ascorbate results in the reactivation of epigenetically silenced genes. Ascorbate and its oxidized form, dehydroascorbate, have attracted interest in terms of their roles in cancer therapy. The last step in the biosynthesis of ascorbate is catalyzed by L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase whose gene Gulo is commonly mutated in all animals that do not synthesize ascorbate. One common explanation for this deficiency is based on the increased availability of ascorbate from foods. In fact, pathways for ascorbate synthesis and the detoxification of xenobiotics by glucuronate conjugation share the metabolic processes up to UDP-glucuronate, which prompts another hypothesis, namely, that ascorbate-incompetent animals might have developed stronger detoxification systems in return for their lack of ability to produce ascorbate, which would allow them to cope with their situation. Here, we overview recent advances in ascorbate research and propose that an enhanced glucuronate conjugation reaction may have applied positive selection pressure on ascorbate-incompetent animals, thus allowing them to dominate the animal kingdom.

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“…Casi todos los mamíferos, excepto los conejillos de indias, producen ácido L-ascórbico. Por lo tanto es común que se presenten deficiencias en los conejillos de indias ya que son incapaces de la síntesis endógena de la Vitamina C, por su incapacidad de producir la enzima L-gulono-γ oxidasa lactona, que es necesaria para convertir la glucosa en ácido ascórbico 36 . Por esta razón los conejillos tienen un requerimiento diario de la dieta absoluta de 10 mg/kg, aumentando a 30 mg/kg en la gestación.…”

Section: Deficiencias De Vitamina Cunclassified

Patologías dermatológicas de origen nutricional en los pequeños animales: una revisión

Domínguez¹

2016

Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec.

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The skin pathologies of nutritional origin either due to alterations in intestinal absorption of some nutrients or genetic predispositions affecting its absorption; nutritional deficiencies may occur by poor development of both home and commercial diets; although at present are not as common for the regulation of food is balanced and demands by control agencies in each country. These conditions are related to some vitamins such as A, D, E and C, essential fatty acids, proteins, and certain minerals such as zinc. Among dermatological diseases and clinical signs include food allergies, dry and oily seborrhea, scaling, follicular plugging, hair loss and dull, dry coat, among others. The aim of this review is closer to the vet to the causes of dermatologic disease of nutritional origin clinical, since alterations of the skin in general are very common in the veterinary clinic for small animals and we need to recognize all the pathologies and treat appropriately.

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Guinea pigs possess a highly mutated gene for L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, the key enzyme for L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis missing in this species.

Cited by 131 publications

References 20 publications

Design‐based stereological study of the guinea‐pig (Cavia porcellus) cerebellum

Design‐based stereological study of the guinea‐pig (Cavia porcellus) cerebellum

Ascorbate is a multifunctional micronutrient whose synthesis is lacking in primates

Patologías dermatológicas de origen nutricional en los pequeños animales: una revisión

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