Evaluation of gastrointestinal transit time in dogs affected by the Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy (GRMD)

• Grant number: 11/17969-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Maria Angelica Miglino
• Grantee: Daniela Santilli Cima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

GRMD dog (Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy) is an excellent model to study the action of cell therapy for use in DMD - Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which occurs in humans due to the clinical similarity between them. This project aims to evaluate the gastrointestinal transit time in dogs affected by GRMD, because although the few studies on the smooth muscle in DMD and GRMD, there are reports of gastrointestinal disorders in both human patients and in animal models. Will be used 06 (six) dogs affected by GRMD. The evaluation of the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract will be performed through oral administration, along with the meal, polyethylene spheres impregnated with barium (BIPS) and serial radiographs taken at intervals of two hours between them, even complete elimination of ingested food. The gastric emptying time (GE) and transit time in the small intestine (TTID) are determinants of total gastrointestinal transit time and these variables are calculated based on mathematical equations described in the literature for the species. The results serve to better understand the digestive physiology of these animals and also to assess dietary practices currently used in the kennel of dogs where this study will be conducted, seeking improvements in quality of life of dogs, which will allow longer survival for them and better conditions for others researchs. Moreover, understanding the digestive process of dogs suffering from this condition will promote possible improvements in feed management of DMD patients. (AU)