Molecular and genetic characterization of sex-linked orange coat color in the domestic cat.

The mutation in domestic cats causes variegated patches of reddish/yellow hair and is a defining signature of random X-inactivation in female tortoiseshell and calico cats. Unlike the situation for most coat color genes, there is no apparent homolog for in other mammals. We show that the is caused by a 5 kb deletion that leads to ectopic and melanocyte-specific expression of the ( ) gene.

Endocrine fibroblast growth factors in domestic animals.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a group of structurally homologous yet functionally pleiotropic proteins. Canonical and intracellular FGFs have primarily autocrine or paracrine effects. However, the FGF19 subfamily, composed of FGF15/19, FGF21, and FGF23, act as endocrine hormones that regulate bile acid, metabolic, and phosphorus homeostasis, respectively.

Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer's disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by brain plaques, tangles, and cognitive impairment. AD is one of the most common age-related dementias in humans. Progress in characterizing AD and other age-related disorders is hindered by a perceived dearth of animal models that naturally reproduce diseases observed in humans.

Role of liquid fructose/sucrose in regulating the hepatic transcriptome in a high-fat Western diet model of NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the most common chronic liver disease. Yet, the molecular mechanisms for the progression of steatosis to NASH remain largely undiscovered. Thus, there is a need for identifying specific gene and pathway changes that drive the progression of NAFLD.

Effect of mineral oil as a lubricant to collect feces from cats for microbiome studies.

Background: Fecal specimens are critical for disease screening, diagnosis, and gut microbiome research. For domestic cats, lubricants are often necessary to obtain a sufficient quantity of sample. However, the effect of lubrication on feline microbiome analysis has not been assessed.

Effects of a single dose of orally and rectally administered misoprostol in an in vivo endotoxemia model in healthy adult horses.

Objective: To describe misoprostol pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory efficacy when administered orally or per rectum in endotoxin-challenged horses.

Animals: 6 healthy geldings.

Procedures: A randomized 3-treatment crossover design was performed with a minimum washout period of 28 days between treatment arms.

PEA15 loss of function and defective cerebral development in the domestic cat.

Cerebral cortical size and organization are critical features of neurodevelopment and human evolution, for which genetic investigation in model organisms can provide insight into developmental mechanisms and the causes of cerebral malformations. However, some abnormalities in cerebral cortical proliferation and folding are challenging to study in laboratory mice due to the absence of gyri and sulci in rodents. We report an autosomal recessive allele in domestic cats associated with impaired cerebral cortical expansion and folding, giving rise to a smooth, lissencephalic brain, and that appears to be caused by homozygosity for a frameshift in PEA15 (phosphoprotein expressed in astrocytes-15).

The Absence of Adiponectin Alters Niacin's Effects on Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Mice.

Obesity is an immunometabolic disease associated with chronic inflammation and the dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. One hallmark of obesity is reduced concentrations of the anti-inflammatory adipokine, adiponectin. Pharmacologic doses of niacin produce multiple metabolic benefits, including attenuating high-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose tissue inflammation and increasing adiponectin concentrations.

The physio-metabolic effects of time-restricting liquid sugar intake to six-hour windows during the mouse active phase: The effects of active phase liquid sugar consumption.

Obesity is a major public health concern and overconsumption of unhealthy fats and sugary beverages are contributing factors. Time-restricted feeding can reduce obesity-associated pathophysiological parameters by limiting the time of food consumption; however, the effects of time-restricted sugary water consumption are unknown. To examine whether liquid calorie restriction impacts metabolic health, we measured metabolic parameters in mice provided liquid sugar at various intervals during the active phase.

Niacin increases diet-induced hepatic steatosis in B6129 mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder affecting between 20 and 30% of adults in the United States. However, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for treating NAFLD. Niacin, a water-soluble vitamin (B3), at pharmacological doses, decreases hepatic triglyceride (TG) content in NAFLD through inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, a key enzyme that catalyzes the final step in TG synthesis.

Effects of Ovariohysterectomy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Systemic Inflammation and Oxidation in Dogs.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% oxygen in a specialized compression chamber leading to hyperoxia. This treatment modality is associated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and healing properties in people and laboratory animals. However, there are relatively few reports that evaluate the effects of HBOT in companion animals.

Dietary Methionine Restriction Reduces Inflammation Independent of FGF21 Action.

Objective: Methionine restriction (MR) decreases inflammation and improves markers of metabolic disease in rodents. MR also increases hepatic and circulating concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Emerging evidence has suggested that FGF21 exerts anti-inflammatory effects.

Restricted feeding for 9h in the active period partially abrogates the detrimental metabolic effects of a Western diet with liquid sugar consumption in mice.

Background: Obesity is a major public health concern that can result from diets high in fat and sugar, including sugar sweetened beverages. A proposed treatment for dietary-induced obesity is time-restricted feeding (TRF), which restricts consumption of food to specific times of the 24-hour cycle. Although TRF shows great promise to prevent obesity and the development of chronic disease, the effects of TRF to reverse metabolic changes and the development of NAFLD in animal models of a Western diet with sugary water consumption is not known.

Anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2.

The hydroxycarboxylic acid receptors (HCA1-3) are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors that are critical for sensing endogenous intermediates of metabolism. All three receptors are predominantly expressed on adipocytes and mediate anti-lipolytic effects. In addition to adipocytes, HCA2 is highly expressed on immune cells, including macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and dermal dendritic cells, among other cell types.

Metabolic phenotype and adipose and liver features in a high-fat Western diet-induced mouse model of obesity-linked NAFLD.

nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an obesity and insulin resistance associated clinical condition - ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. To model the human condition, a high-fat Western diet that includes liquid sugar consumption has been used in mice. Even though liver pathophysiology has been well characterized in the model, little is known about the metabolic phenotype (e.

Comparison of Chemiluminescence vs. Infrared Techniques for Detection of Fetuin-A in Saliva.

The western blotting technique for transfer and detection of proteins, named following the discovery of southern and northern blotting for DNA- and RNA-blotting, respectively, has traditionally relied on the use of X-ray films to capture chemiluminescence. Recent advancements use super-cooled charge coupled devices (CCD) cameras to capture both chemiluminescence and fluorescence images, which exhibit a greater dynamic range compared to traditional X-ray film. Chemiluminescence detected by a CCD camera records photons and displays an image based on the amount of light generated as a result of a dynamic chemical reaction.

Hematologic findings predictive of bone marrow disease in dogs with multicentric large-cell lymphoma.

Background: Evaluation of the bone marrow is needed for complete staging in dogs with multicentric large-cell lymphoma, but is often omitted in clinical practice.

Objectives: The objective was to determine if routine peripheral blood findings, including microscopic evaluation of blood smears, can predict the presence of bone marrow involvement in dogs with lymphoma.

Methods: Hematologic data including evaluation of blood smears and bone marrow aspirates from 107 dogs newly diagnosed with large-cell lymphoma were retrospectively evaluated.