Metabolic and endocrine profiles in healthy dogs: influence of intake and sex

Abstract

Food Intake and gender effects on serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, non-sterified fatty acids (NEFA), protein, albumin, insulin, cortisol, thyroxin (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are inestigated in Cocker Spaniel dogs (4 females, 3 males). Blood sampling is performed hourly from 2 hours before  to 9 hours after intake. Determination of metabolites and hormones are performed by espectrophotometry and radioimmunoanalysis respectively. Intake affects NEFA and insulin concentrations, while it has no effect on cholesterol. Albumin concentration decreases 2 hs post intake. T4 concentrations incrase at intake and remain high for 4 hours. Females present higher cholesterol (2.40±0.07 vs 1.91± 0.08 g/L, P<0.05), and tend to present higher insulin (11.9±1.6 vs 8.0±1.8 uUI/ml, P=0.12) and cortisol (2.29±0.11 vs 1.99± 0.13 _g/dL, P=0.08) concentrations than males, respectively. Food intake and sex affect serum concentrations of some metabolites and hormones, demonstrating that they should be taken into account when a sample is taken for diagnosis.