Influence of diet on urinary biochemical profile and lithiasis formation in animal model, and its importance for veterinary medicine in felines

• Grant number: 18/19111-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Talita Rojas Cunha Sanches
• Grantee: Kellen Cristine de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cats are frequently affected by chronic kidney disease and renal lithiasis. The incidence of calculus in cats has been increasing over the years, with possible influence of the current industrialized dry diets, which present high sodium and protein concentrations. However, there are virtually no urinary biochemical studies in felines because of the great difficulty in collecting urine from these animals, since bladder catheterization would require sedation and it is technically difficult, while cystocentesis carries an increased risk of urinary vesicle rupture in cats. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the urinary biochemical changes in animals exposed to cat standard diet and cat renal diet. Thus, Wistar rats will receive specific diets for a 6 months. 24h-urinary citrate, oxalate and calcium will be evaluated every 2 months. Renal function will be assessed by plasma urea, 24-h creatinine clearance and plasma and urinary NGAL, with histological assessment of tissue injury, presence of calculi or micro-calculus, and immunohistochemistry for evaluation of inflammatory tissue markers. Proteins of renal protection (Tamm-Horsfall and Klotho protein) and association with renal fibrosis (TGFbeta) will be evaluated by protein immunoelectrophoresis in kidneys. Possible intestinal microbiota changes induced by diets will be evaluated. Thus, risk and protection factors for lithiasis associated with feline diets will be studied.