Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sex differences in cat liver fats before and after spaying
By Valtolina, Chiara et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2017·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Sex specific differences in hepatic and plasma lipid profiles in healthy cats pre and post spaying and neutering: relationship with feline hepatic lipidosis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at how spaying and neutering affects the fat levels in healthy cats. Researchers found that intact female cats had lower levels of certain fats in their blood and higher levels of a specific fatty acid in their liver compared to when they were spayed. In contrast, male and female cats with a liver disease called hepatic lipidosis had higher fat levels in their liver. These findings suggest that female cats may be more likely to develop liver issues after being spayed due to changes in their fat metabolism.
People also search for: cat liver disease symptoms · spaying effects on cat health · feline hepatic lipidosis treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A link between lipid metabolism and disease has been recognized in cats. Since hepatic lipidosis is a frequent disorder in cats, the aim of the current study was to evaluate liver and plasma lipid dimorphism in healthy cats and the effects of gonadectomy on lipid profiling. From six female and six male cats plasma and liver lipid profiles before and after spaying/neutering were assessed and compared to five cats (three neutered male and two spayed female) diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis. RESULTS: Intact female cats had a significantly lower level of plasma triacylglycerides (TAG) and a higher liver level of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) compared to their neutered state. Both male and female cats with lipidosis had a higher liver, but not plasma TAG level and an increased level of plasma and liver sphingomyelin compared to the healthy cats. CONCLUSION: Although lipid dimorphism in healthy cats resembles that of other species, intact female cats show differences in metabolic configuration that could predispose them to develop hepatic lipidosis. The increased sphingomyelin levels in cats with lipidosis could suggest a potential role in the pathogenesis of hepatic lipidosis in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28789691/