Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spexin hormone levels linked to obesity in dogs
By Kolodziejski, Pawel Antoni et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Department of Animal Physiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum spexin concentration, body condition score and markers of obesity in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 57 dogs of different weights to see how a hormone called spexin (SPX) relates to body condition and obesity. They found that dogs with higher body condition scores (BCS) had more spexin in their blood, while those with lower scores had less. This suggests that spexin might play a role in how dogs gain weight and could be used as a marker for obesity. Understanding this hormone could help veterinarians better assess and manage weight issues in dogs.
People also search for: dog obesity treatment · how to help my dog lose weight · spexin hormone in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spexin (SPX) is a peptide hormone that regulates body weight, adipose tissue metabolism, and food intake. HYPOTHESIS: Serum SPX concentration correlates with body condition score (BCS) and markers of obesity in dogs. ANIMALS: Fifty-seven dogs of varying body condition assessed using a 5-point BCS. METHODS: Prospective, nonblinded, observational cohort study. Serum SPX concentration was measured using commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) in dogs with varying BCS. Spexin mRNA and protein expression were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Serum SPX concentration was lower in dogs with BCS4 (8.56 +/- 2.86) and BCS5 (6.7 +/- 2.12) compared to BCS2 (11.96 +/- 2.23) and BCS3 (10.51 +/- 2.19; BCS2 vs BCS5, P < .001 and BCS2 vs BCS4, P = .005; BCS3 vs BCS5, P = .002). Spexin mRNA was detected in adipose tissue, liver and pancreas. Spexin protein was expressed in adipose tissue and liver but not in pancreas. There were negative correlations between SPX and serum concentration of insulin (P < .05); leptin (P < .01), triglycerides (P < .01), total cholesterol (P < .01), nonesterified fatty acids (P < .01), and fructosamine (P < .01). There was a positive correlation between SPX and serum concentration of adiponectin (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Spexin could be involved in pathogenesis of obesity in dogs, and might be considered as a potential marker for obesity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33426749/