Extensive changes in innate immune gene expression in obese Göttingen minipigs do not lead to changes in concentrations of circulating cytokines and acute phase proteins.

The usefulness of Göttingen minipigs as models for obesity and obesity-related pathologies is well established. The low-grade inflammation associated with obesity involves a range of innate immune factors; however, to our knowledge, the impact of obesity on innate immune factor expression has not been studied in Göttingen minipigs. Therefore, we studied the expression of innate immune genes in liver and adipose tissues as well as serum concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins in obese vs. lean Göttingen minipigs. In the liver, of 35 investigated genes, the expression of nine was significantly different in obese pigs (three up-regulated, six down-regulated). Of 33 genes in adipose tissues, obesity was associated with changed expression of 12 genes in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (three up-regulated), 11 in the abdominal retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT) (seven of these up-regulated) and eight in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from the neck (five of which were up-regulated). Obesity-associated expression changes were observed for three genes in all adipose tissues, namely chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3-like 1 (up-regulated), CD200 molecule (down-regulated) and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (up-regulated) with interleukin 1 receptor antagonist being the most highly regulated gene in both VAT and RPAT. Looking at patterns of expression across the three types of adipose tissues, obesity was associated with an increased number of acute phase proteins differentially expressed between adipose tissues and a decreased tissue-specific expression of cytokines and chemokines. In contrast to obese humans, no changes in serum concentrations of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6 were found in obese Göttingen minipigs.

Expression studies of six human obesity-related genes in seven tissues from divergent pig breeds.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally and has become the cause of several major health risks worldwide. Presently, more than 100 loci have been related to obesity and metabolic traits in humans by genome-wide association studies. The complex genetic architecture behind obesity has triggered a need for the development of better animal models than rodents. The pig has emerged as a very promising biomedical model to study human obesity traits. In this study, we have characterized the expression patterns of six obesity-related genes, leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), fat mass and obesity associated (FTO), neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR)1 and adiponectin (ADIPOQ), in seven obesity-relevant tissues (liver; muscle; pancreas; hypothalamus; and retroperitoneal, subcutaneous and mesenteric adipose tissues) in two pig breeds (production pigs and Göttingen minipigs) that deviate phenotypically and genetically from each other with respect to obesity traits. We observe significant differential expression for LEP, LEPR and ADIPOQ in muscle and in all three adipose tissues. Interestingly, in pancreas, LEP expression is only detected in the fat minipigs. FTO shows significant differential expression in all tissues analyzed, and NEGR1 shows significant differential expression in muscle, pancreas, hypothalamus and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The MC4R transcript can be detected only in hypothalamus. In general, the expression profiles of the investigated genes are in accordance with those observed in human studies. Our study shows that both the differences between the investigated breeds and the phenotypic state with respect to obesity/leanness play a large role for differential expression of the obesity-related genes.

Changes in platelet function in Dachshunds with early stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate platelet function in Dachshunds during early stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease. Clinical examination and echocardiography were performed in 34 wirehaired standard sized Dachshunds. Platelet function was evaluated using the PFA-100 (reported as closure time). In addition, whole blood platelet aggregation response and hemostatic markers were evaluated. Significant longer PFA-100 closure time (CT) was found in 12 Dachshunds with mild mitral regurgitation (MR) compared to 22 Dachshunds with minimal MR. Only five Dachshunds responded to adenosine diphosphate in the whole blood aggregation analyses. There were no differences between the two dog groups in plasma fibrinogen, plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) or vWf multimer distribution; however, there was a significant correlation between CT and plasma vWf concentration and CT and plasma fibrinogen concentration. The higher CT found in Dachshunds with mild MR suggests a form of platelet dysfunction in Dachshunds with MR.

Effects of breed, gender, exercise and white-coat effect on markers of endothelial function in dogs.

This study examines how systemic biomarkers of endothelial function and nitric oxide metabolism are affected by exercise in dogs. Furthermore, breed variation and white-coat effect have been tested by sampling three different dog breeds both in their home and in a clinical setting. Short-term exercise increased plasma nitrate and nitrite (NOx) and von Willebrand factor (vWf). There was significant difference between Pointers and the small dog breeds Cairn Terriers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in the general plasma levels of vWf and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). NOx and vWf were significantly higher when the sample was taken in the laboratory cf. at home, whereas ADMA and L-arginine were significantly lower. In conclusion, both short-term exercise and white-coat effect influence several plasma markers of endothelial function depending also on the breed and gender of the dogs. These findings should be considered in future studies concerning endothelial function in dogs.

Single port laparoscopic long-term tube gastrostomy in Göttingen minipigs.

Oral dosing by gavage is often used to test compounds in minipigs. This method is also used for certain nutritional studies that require exact dosing. This procedure may be stressful for the animal and requires the assistance of more than one technician. We investigated whether a gastrostomy tube could be placed and maintained in Göttingen minipigs using a single port laparoscopic technique. As part of another study, laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement was performed in 12 Göttingen minipigs (32 ± 2 kg) under general anesthesia. The procedure involved single port laparoscopic visualization of the stomach and placement of a locking pigtail catheter into the fundus region of the stomach. The minipigs were followed for three weeks after surgery and macroscopic and microscopic tissue reactions were evaluated at necropsy. All catheters were successfully placed and were easy to use. At necropsy it was evident that the catheter had entered the stomach in the fundus region in 11/12 of the animals. In one animal the catheter had entered the antrum region. None of the animals developed leakage or clinically detectable reactions to the gastrostomy tube. Histopathologically, only discrete changes were observed. Single port laparoscopic tube gastrostomy with a locking pigtail catheter is safe, simple and reliable and is an appropriate alternative to, for example, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, when long-term enteral delivery of pharmacological or nutritional compounds is needed. The use of the gastrostomy tube was easy and, based on subjective assessment, feeding was minimally stressful to the animals.

Alpha-smooth muscle actin and serotonin receptors 2A and 2B in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Canine Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is an age-related disease. Serotonin (5-HT) is implicated in the pathogenesis as locally-produced or platelet-derived. Involvement of the 5-HT2A receptor (R) and 5-HT2BR in the induction of myxomatous-mediating valvular myofibroblasts (MF) has been suggested. In an age-matched population of dogs with non-clinical and clinical MMVD, the objectives were to investigate (1) gene expression of 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2BR, (2) protein expression and spatial relationship of 5-HT2AR, 5-HT2BR and MF in the mitral valve (MV) and the cardiac anterior papillary muscle (AP) and (3) serum 5-HT concentrations. Gene expression of 5-HT2BR was significantly higher in MV and AP among dogs with clinical MMVD. This was not found for 5-HT2BR protein expression, though association of 5-HT2BR with myxomatous pathology and co-localization of 5-HT2BR and MF in MV and AP support a functional relationship, perhaps perpetuation of clinical MMVD. 5-HT2AR-expression and serum 5-HT showed no differences between groups.

Serotonin markers show altered transcription levels in an experimental pig model of mitral regurgitation.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signalling is implicated in the pathogenesis of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) through 5-HT1B receptor (R), 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2BR-induced myxomatous pathology. Based on increased tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH-1) and decreased serotonin re-uptake transporter (SERT) in MMVD-affected valves, increased valvular 5-HT synthesis and decreased clearance have been suggested. It remains unknown how haemodynamic changes associated with mitral regurgitation (MR) affect 5-HT markers in the mitral valve, myocardium and circulation. Twenty-eight pigs underwent surgically induced MR or sham-operation, resulting in three MR groups: control (CON, n = 12), mild MR (mMR, n = 10) and severe MR (sMR, n = 6). The gene expression levels of 5-HT1BR, 5-HT2AR, 5-HT2BR, SERT and TPH-1 were analysed using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in the mitral valve (MV), anterior papillary muscle (AP) and left ventricle (LV). MV 5-HT2BR was also analysed with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in relation to histological lesions and valvular myofibroblasts. All 5-HTR mRNAs were up-regulated in MV compared to AP and LV (P <0.01). In contrast, SERT and TPH-1 were up-regulated in AP and LV compared to MV (P <0.05). In MV, mRNA levels were increased for 5-HT2BR (P = 0.02) and decreased for SERT (P = 0.03) in sMR vs. CON. There were no group differences in 5-HT2BR staining (IHC) but co-localisation was found with α-SMA-positive cells in 91% of all valves and with 33% of histological lesions. In LV, 5-HT1BR mRNA levels were increased in sMR vs. CON (P = 0.01). In conclusion, these data suggest that MR may affect mRNA expression of valvular 5-HT2BR and SERT, and left ventricular 5-HT1BR in some pigs.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) in advanced canine myxomatous mitral valve disease.

This study investigated mitral valve and myocardial protein and gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and plasma MMP and TGF-ß concentrations in age-matched dog groups euthanized due to either advanced myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) or other reasons. Furthermore, echocardiographic data and lumen/area ratio were correlated with tissue and plasma levels of MMPs, TIMPs and TGF-ßs. Mitral valve and myocardial gene expression of MMP2, MMP14, TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß2 were increased and plasma MMP9 was decreased in advanced MMVD dogs. Myocardial gene expression of TIMP2 and TIMP3 were increased in advanced MMVD. All affected markers correlated to echocardiographic parameters. Significantly narrowed lumen/area ratio was associated with increased myocardial expression of MMP2, MMP14, TIMP2 and TIMP3. No differences in tissue protein expression were recorded. MMP2, MMP14, TIMP2, TIMP3, TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß2 appear to play a local role in the development of advanced MMVD.

Holter monitoring of small breed dogs with advanced myxomatous mitral valve disease with and without a history of syncope.

BACKGROUND: Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness occasionally occurring in dogs with advanced myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). OBJECTIVE: (1) To study ECG changes during syncopal episodes in dogs with advanced MMVD and (2) to compare the occurrence of arrhythmias and changes in heart rate variability (HRV) between dogs with advanced MMVD with and without a history of syncope. ANIMALS: Forty-three privately owned dogs (<15 kg) with advanced MMVD: 21 with and 22 without a history of syncope. METHODS: Prospective study with dogs recruited for an evaluation including history, physical examination, echocardiography, and arrhythmia and HRV analysis performed on 24-hour Holter recordings. RESULTS: A syncopal episode was observed during Holter monitoring in 4 dogs: 3 dogs had sinus rhythm and 1 dog had sinus arrest followed by escape rhythm. An arrhythmia variable representing sinus arrhythmia was significantly lower in dogs with a history of syncope than in those without (P = .008). Eight of 26 HRV variables were significantly different between dogs with and without a history of syncope. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Compared with dogs without a history of syncope, dogs with advanced MMVD and a history of syncope did not have a higher occurrence of arrhythmias, but had less sinus arrhythmia, and had changes in HRV variables representing decreased overall HRV, decreased parasympathetic, and increased sympathetic modulation of heart rate.

Left ventricular twist and circumferential strain in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: During the cardiac cycle, the ventricle undergoes a twisting motion because of the oblique orientation of the left ventricular (LV) myofibers. This can be quantified by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). In mitral regurgitation (MR) in humans, the short axis deformation has been suggested as being pivotal to LV function. Decreased and delayed LV twist has been described in experimental MR, but has not been studied in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). HYPOTHESES: (1) Magnitude (CSt) and rate (CSRs) of systolic circumferential deformation decrease before the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF); (2) magnitude and rate of LV twist decrease, and onset of untwist is delayed, with increasing MMVD severity. ANIMALS: A total of 97 privately owned small- to medium-sized dogs. METHODS: Severity of MMVD was assessed by echocardiography and presence of clinical signs of CHF. Magnitude and rate of LV twist and circumferential deformation were evaluated by STE. RESULTS: Dogs with CHF receiving treatment had increased CSt, CSRs, early diastolic untwisting rate, and delayed onset of untwist compared to dogs with minimal MMVD and increased systolic twist compared to dogs with mild MMVD (all P < .01). CSt and time to onset of untwist increased with echocardiographic variables of MR severity (all P < .002). CSRs and several LV twist variables decreased with increasing systolic LV internal diameter (all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: No STE-derived variable was decreased before onset of CHF. In dogs with CHF receiving treatment, the delayed onset of relaxation might indicate LV dysfunction and the hyperdynamic CSt and LV twist reflect compensatory mechanisms.

Heart rate, heart rate variability, and arrhythmias in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Autonomic modulation of heart rhythm is thought to influence the pathophysiology of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). HYPOTHESES: (1) Holter-derived variables reflecting autonomic modulation of heart rhythm change with MMVD severity in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS); (2) Holter-derived variables can identify MMVD severity in CKCS; and (3) Holter-derived variables in CKCS in congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to MMVD differ from those in dogs of other breeds in CHF. ANIMALS: Ninety privately owned dogs: 70 CKCS with variable MMVD severity and 20 non-CKCS in CHF secondary to MMVD. METHODS: Dogs were prospectively recruited and divided into 5 MMVD severity groups based on history, breed, and physical and echocardiographic examination findings. Holter-derived variables included heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), and arrhythmia evaluated from 24-hour Holter recordings. RESULTS: In CKCS, 18 of 26 HRV (all P < .0002) and 3 of 9 arrhythmia (all P < .0004) variables decreased with increasing MMVD, whereas minimum and mean HR (all P < .0001) increased with increasing MMVD severity. An arrhythmia variable representing sinus arrhythmia ("premature normals") (P < .0001) and the HRV variable triangular index (TI) (P < .0001) could distinguish CKCS with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation from CKCS in CHF in specific intervals. Among dogs in CHF, Holter-derived variables did not differ among breeds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In CKCS, Holter-derived variables changed with MMVD severity. "Premature normals" and TI showed diagnostic potential. Breed differences were not seen among dogs in CHF secondary to MMVD.

Flow-mediated vasodilation measurements in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with increasing severity of myxomatous mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is associated with endothelial dysfunction in humans and studies of plasma biomarkers suggest that dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) might also have endothelial dysfunction. HYPOTHESIS: That progression of mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with development of endothelial dysfunction. ANIMALS: Forty-three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) with MR of varying severity. METHODS: Privately owned CKCS were prospectively recruited and divided in 4 groups: (1) 12 CKCS with minimal MR; (2) 9 CKCS with mild MR; (3) 11 CKCS with moderate-severe MR; and (4) 11 CKCS with moderate-severe MR and clinical signs compatible with heart failure. Dogs underwent blood sampling, echocardiography, blood pressure (BP) recordings, and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) measurements. The effect of progressive MR on FMD was determined by multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Flow-mediated vasodilation decreased with progression of MR. Group 4 (4.79 ± 3.22%) had significantly lower FMD than groups 1 (10.40 ± 4.58%) and 2 (10.14 ± 3.67%) (P < .005) and group 3 (6.79 ± 3.98%) had a significantly lower FMD than group 1 (P = .03). Increasing left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (P = .0004, R(2) = 0.27) and the combination of age (P = .01) and body weight (P = .002) (R(2) = 0.31) were significantly associated with reduced FMD. FMD did not correlate with sex, BP, or plasma markers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Reduced FMD indicates that increased disease severity in CKCS with MMVD is associated with development of endothelial dysfunction which might be a future therapeutic and/or diagnostic target.

Radial and longitudinal strain and strain rate assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function using conventional echocardiographic methods is difficult in mitral regurgitation (MR) owing to altered hemodynamic loading conditions. Newer methods such as speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) provide assessment of LV strain (St) and strain rates (SR). HYPOTHESES: Global St and SR are 1) decreased in dogs with clinical signs of congestive heart failure (CHF) due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) compared with clinically healthy dogs, and are 2) associated with conventional echocardiographic indices of MMVD severity. ANIMALS: The study subjects were 93 privately owned dogs with different MMVD severities. METHODS: Prospectively recruited dogs were grouped according to MMVD severity based on echocardiographic evaluation of MR and presence of clinical signs. Global radial and longitudinal St, SR, and indices of LV dyssynchrony were assessed. RESULTS: On group-wise comparisons, dogs with CHF had increased global longitudinal St, global longitudinal and radial SR in systole (SRs), and early diastole (SRe) compared with dogs with no or minimal MR (all P < .04). On multiple regression analyses, these global STE variables increased with degree of MR, but associations with left atrial-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) were best described by second-order polynomial equations. Thus, curvilinear relationships were found for LA/Ao and longitudinal St, SRs, and SRe (all P < .002) and radial St and SRe (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Assessed by STE, LV function appeared to be augmented in moderate-to-severe disease. However, at CHF stages with greatly enlarged atria, a decrease to levels comparable to dogs with no or minimal MR was observed.

Holter monitoring in clinically healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Wire-haired Dachshunds, and Cairn Terriers.

BACKGROUND: Few reported studies describe normal values from 24-hour ECG (Holter) recordings of small breed dogs. OBJECTIVES: To investigate influence of breed, age, sex, body weight, degree of recording artifact, and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) on Holter recordings of 3 breeds of small dogs that have differing predispositions for myxomatous mitral valve disease. The study also assessed if heart rate (HR) at clinical examination (HRex) was associated with HR during Holter monitoring and evaluated the reproducibility of Holter variables. ANIMALS: Fifty clinically healthy, privately owned dogs of the breeds Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS), Wire-haired Dachshund (wD), or Cairn Terrier (CT). METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal observational study. Dogs were recruited for clinical examination, echocardiography, and Holter monitoring. In 8 CKCS, Holter recordings were performed twice with a 7-day interval. Arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis (time and frequency domain analysis) were performed on Holter recordings. RESULTS: Fifteen out of 27 Holter derived variables were significantly associated with breed (P < .03), but not with age (P > .7), sex (P > .2), body weight (P > .7), degree of recording artifact (P > .4), or MVP (P > .6). During Holter recording, minimum (P = .0001) and mean HR (P = .0001) were higher in CKCS compared with wD. CKCS had significantly lower values than wD, CT, or both in 10 out of 13 HRV variables (P < .03). Minimum and mean HR during Holter recording were correlated with HRex (r = 0.55, P = .0003). HR and time domain variables had a coefficient of variation <10%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: There is an influence of breed on Holter-derived variables in 3 breeds of small dogs. Arrhythmia and HRV analysis can be performed on 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter) recordings. Arrhythmia analysis includes HR measurements and identification of arrhythmias.

Transcription levels of endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors are associated with age and leaflet location in porcine mitral valves.

The aim of the study was to investigate the expression levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET(A) and ET(B) receptors (ET(A)-R and ET(B)-R) in porcine mitral valves and associate the transcription levels to age, leaflet location and deposition of mucopolysaccharides (MPS). Tissue samples from the chordal and inter-chordal insertion area of the anterior mitral valve leaflet from 11 sows (> or = 2 years of age) and 10 slaughter pigs (approximately 6 months old) were obtained and the relative gene expression levels of ET-1, ET(A)-R and ET(B)-R measured by semi-quantitative real-time PCR. A separate tissue sample was taken for histopathological grading of MPS deposition. The transcription levels of ET-1 (P < 0.0001) and ET(A)-R (P < 0.0004) were significantly higher in leaflets from the sows compared with slaughter pigs. The gene expression of ET(B)-R was not associated to age (P = 0.38), but increased in chordal insertion areas compared with inter-chordal areas (P = 0.01). The expression of ET-1 and ET(A)-R mRNA did not differ significantly between the two leaflet locations. The valve leaflets from sows had a significantly increased degree of MPS deposition compared with slaughter pigs upon histological examination (P = 0.04). In conclusion, an age-related valvular degeneration is observed in porcine mitral valve leaflets and ET-1 is suggested to be involved through action of both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors.

Direct measurements of nitric oxide release in relation to expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in isolated porcine mitral valves.

The aim of this study was to measure the direct release of nitric oxide (NO) from the porcine mitral valve using a NO microelectrode. Furthermore, the expression and localization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the mitral valve was studied using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR. Results show that bradykinin increases NO release from mitral valves (DeltaBradykinin: 33.71 +/- 10.41 nm NO, P < 0.001, n = 10), whereas N-nitro-l-arginine methyl esther (l-NAME) decreases NO release when compared with basal level (Deltal-NAME: 82.69 +/- 15.66 nm NO, P < 0.005, n = 4). Both protein and mRNA expression of eNOS in mitral valves and in isolated valvular endothelial cells suggest that the NO release is mainly associated with the mitral valve endothelium. It is concluded that direct NO release from porcine mitral valves coincides with eNOS expression. This study documents useful techniques for investigations into the role of local NO release in mitral valve diseases.