Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Serotonin levels in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with mitral valve
By Cremer, Signe E et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2015·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Plasma and serum serotonin concentrations and surface-bound platelet serotonin expression in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with myxomatous mitral valve disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with varying stages of heart disease (myxomatous mitral valve disease) had their blood tested for serotonin levels and platelet activity. The results showed that dogs with mild heart disease had higher serotonin levels compared to those with severe heart failure. However, there was no significant difference in platelet activation between the groups. Interestingly, most dogs with low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) had a specific type of platelet that was more active and had higher serotonin binding. This suggests that while serotonin levels vary with heart disease severity, they may not directly influence the progression of the disease.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel heart disease symptoms · dog serotonin levels · thrombocytopenia in dogs · myxomatous mitral valve disease treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum and plasma serotonin concentrations, percentage of serotonin-positive platelets, level of surface-bound platelet serotonin expression (mean fluorescence intensity [MFI]), and platelet activation (CD62 expression) in platelet-rich plasma from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). ANIMALS: Healthy dogs (n = 15) and dogs with mild MMVD (18), moderate-severe MMVD (19), or severe MMVD with congestive heart failure (CHF; 10). PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected from each dog. Serum and plasma serotonin concentrations were measured with an ELISA, and surface-bound platelet serotonin expression and platelet activation were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Dogs with mild MMVD had higher median serum (746 ng/mL) and plasma (33.3 ng/mL) serotonin concentrations, compared with MMVD-affected dogs with CHF (388 ng/mL and 9.9 ng/mL, respectively), but no other group differences were found. Among disease groups, no differences in surface-bound serotonin expression or platelet activation were found. Thrombocytopenic dogs had lower serum serotonin concentration (482 ng/mL) than nonthrombocytopenic dogs (731 ng/mL). In 26 dogs, a flow cytometry scatterplot subpopulation (FSSP) of platelets was identified; dogs with an FSSP had a higher percentage of serotonin-positive platelets (11.0%), higher level of surface-bound serotonin expression (MFI, 32,068), and higher platelet activation (MFI, 2,363) than did dogs without an FSSP (5.7%, 1,230, and 1,165, respectively). An FSSP was present in 93.8% of thrombocytopenic dogs and in 29.5% of nonthrombocytopenic dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A substantive influence of circulating serotonin on MMVD stages prior to CHF development in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels was not supported by the study findings. An FSSP of highly activated platelets with pronounced serotonin binding was strongly associated with thrombocytopenia but not MMVD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26000599/