Evaluation of adiponectin serum levels and its correlation with obesity and endocardiosis mitral valve in dogs

• Grant number: 10/10961-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Maria Helena Matiko Akao Larsson
• Grantee: Maria Helena Matiko Akao Larsson
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of body fat, derived from a chronic imbalance between energy intake and spend. This imbalance is related to factors such as lifestyle (diet and physical activity), neuroendocrine disorders, and hereditary factors (MARQUES-LOPES et al., 2004). Obesity not only affects humans, becoming an important element of studies and research, including pets such as dogs and cats. The diagnosis of obesity is usually done by direct inspection. Dogs and cats must have easily palpable ribs with hourglass configuration when viewed from above. Inability to palpate the ribs and the presence of fat deposits easily palpable at the base of the tail, on the hips or in the inguinal area suggest obesity. Ideal conditions of body fat are around 15% to 20% for dogs (LEWIS et al., 1987). Adipose tissue is known as a local energy storage and synthesis of several hormones, among which stands out adiponectin, a protein responsible for the correlation between obesity associated with atherosclerosis in dogs (ISHIOKA et al., 2006). Expressed exclusively in adipocytes, its plasma concentration decreases with increasing body fat (ISHIOKA et al., 2006). Several studies have also suggested that adiponectin has effects as anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory molecules, proving to be a protective factor for cardiovascular disease (OUCHI et al. 2000; OUCHI et al., 1999), although values of circulating adiponectin should be interpreted with caution. It is known that obesity in humans are associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (ATKINS, 1991; GRUNDY and ABATE, 2004, WOFFORD e HALL, 2004), so measurement of this polypeptide can help to establish whether obese patients and / or heart are exposed to a greater or lesser risk of developing cardiovascular events, justifying the performance of this work. (AU)