Antioxidant defence and oxidative stress markers in cats with asymptomatic and symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a pilot study

Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolic Profile of British Shorthair Kittens Fed with Milk Replacer

With the rising popularity of pet cats as companion animals, the survival of newborn kittens is often threatened by factors such as inadequate nursing, maternal behavior and blood incompatibility. These challenges require the use of milk replacers for nurturing. To investigate the effects that feeding kittens with an experimental milk replacer (EMR) have on growth and development, intestinal microbiota, immune response and nutrient metabolism, 12 British shorthair kittens were randomly divided into two groups after nursing for the first week of life. Kittens were fed queen's milk or EMR, whereby kittens fed queen's milk served as the control (CON) group. The findings revealed that the CON group exhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.01) on day 7. However, the EMR group had better growth performance during the later stage of the experiment (p < 0.05); the immunocompetence and antioxidant capacity of the EMR group were not significantly different from those of the CON group in the middle and late stages of the experiment, and the mean values of all the indexes were slightly better than those of the control group. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in microbiota demonstrated that EMR increased the colonization of bacterial genera, including Lachnospiraceae, Enterococcus, Rothia and Ligilactobacillus. Compared to the CON group, acetate acid (p < 0.05), propionate acid (p < 0.01) and total SCFAs (p < 0.01) in the EMR group were significantly increased. Moreover, the intake of the EMR resulted in the production of distinct metabolites implicated in the metabolism of lipids and amino acids, among other nutrients, thus invigorating the associated metabolic pathways. These results elucidate the impact of administering a milk replacer on gastrointestinal health and nutrient assimilation in kittens. The study provides insights into the use of milk powder alternatives and sets the stage for future research on the formulation and effectiveness of kitten milk replacers.

Genetic Mutations and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling as Modulating Factors in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Scoping Review

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart condition characterized by cellular and metabolic dysfunction, with mitochondrial dysfunction playing a crucial role. Although the direct relationship between genetic mutations and mitochondrial dysfunction remains unclear, targeting mitochondrial dysfunction presents promising opportunities for treatment, as there are currently no effective treatments available for HCM. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Searches were conducted in databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus up to September 2023 using "MESH terms". Bibliographic references from pertinent articles were also included. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is influenced by ionic homeostasis, cardiac tissue remodeling, metabolic balance, genetic mutations, reactive oxygen species regulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The latter is a common factor regardless of the cause and is linked to intracellular calcium handling, energetic and oxidative stress, and HCM-induced hypertrophy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatments focus on symptom management and complication prevention. Targeted therapeutic approaches, such as improving mitochondrial bioenergetics, are being explored. This includes coenzyme Q and elamipretide therapies and metabolic strategies like therapeutic ketosis. Understanding the biomolecular, genetic, and mitochondrial mechanisms underlying HCM is crucial for developing new therapeutic modalities.

Dietary Strategies for Relieving Stress in Pet Dogs and Cats

A variety of physical, emotional, and mental factors can induce a stress response in pet dogs and cats. During this process, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenal medulla (SAM) axes are activated to produce a series of adaptive short-term reactions to the aversive situations. Meanwhile, oxidative stress is induced where there is an imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage is also incorporated in sustained stress response causing a series of chronic problems, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, immune dysfunction, and development of abnormal behaviors. In this review, the effects and mechanisms of dietary regulation strategies (e.g., antioxidants, anxiolytic agents, and probiotics) on relieving stress in pet dogs and cats are summarized and discussed. We aim to shed light on future studies in the field of pet food and nutrition.

Essential microelement (copper, selenium, zinc) status according to age and sex in healthy cats

Although domestic cats are one of the most popular companion animals, current knowledge on the fate of micronutrients in cats according to their age, sex, and health is very limited. In this study, 72 whole blood and 54 plasma samples from cats of different ages and sex were collected at three veterinary offices in the Czech Republic, and the copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that Cu was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in both plasma and whole blood of males (980 and 958 μg L-1 in plasma and whole blood, respectively) than in females (741 and 766 μg L-1 in plasma and whole blood, respectively), whereas no significant differences between males and females were found for Se and Zn. Similarly, no significant differences were recorded for any of the three elements according to age, although animals older than 7 years tended to have lower plasma concentrations of all three elements. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most prevalent diseases of domestic cats. The potential relationship between the essential microelement status in the blood of cats with HCM vs. cats with no clinical signs of HCM was taken into account, but the limited number of HCM-positive individuals did not allow any clear conclusion. Thus, the potential relationships between micronutrient status in cats and the incidence of HCM should be elucidated in further research.

Vitamin D Supplementation Could Enhance the Effectiveness of Glibenclamide in Treating Diabetes and Preventing Diabetic Nephropathy: A Biochemical, Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Diabetes mellitus is an oxidative stress-related disease characterized by hyperglycemia and a variety of complications, including nephropathy. Vitamin D has variable functions extending beyond the calcium metabolism to prevent oxidative tissue damage. We aimed to investigate whether vitamin D supplements could enhance Glibenclamide's effectiveness in treating diabetes and minimize the risk of associated pathology. Wistar rats were divided into normal control (n = 10) and diabetic (n = 30), where animals received two low doses of Streptozotocin 30 mg/kg/BW intraperitoneally to develop diabetes. The diabetic rats were then randomly divided into three equal groups: untreated, treated with Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), and treated with Glibenclamide and Vitamin D3 (500 IU/kg). After eight weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and blood samples and kidney tissues were collected to evaluate biochemical, anti-oxidant, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and histological and immunohistochemical changes. Diabetic animals had significantly increased fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, blood urea, serum creatinine, and Malondialdehyde levels, whereas serum insulin, albumin, and the anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly decreased compared to normal control (p < 0.01). Furthermore, some renal histological changes were observed together with significantly increased immunoreactivity of anti-p53, anti-TNF-α, and anti-IL-6 antibodies when compared to the normal control. All abnormal parameters improved significantly with Glibenclamide therapy (p < 0.01), but combination therapy with vitamin D produced a much better result. In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation along with anti-diabetic medication can help prevent or reduce the severity of diabetic nephropathy due to its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

The Influence of Zearalenone on Selected Hemostatic Parameters in Sexually Immature Gilts

Vascular toxicity induced by xenobiotics is associated with dysfunctions or damage to endothelial cells, changes in vascular permeability or dysregulation of the vascular redox state. The aim of this study was to determine whether per os administration of zearalenone (ZEN) influences selected hemostatic parameters in prepubertal gilts. This study was performed on female gilts divided into a control group which received placebo and an experimental group which received ZEN at a dose of 5.0 µg·kg-1 b.w. × day-1. On days 14, 28 and 42, blood samples were collected from the animals for analyses of hematological, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters, nitric oxide, von Willebrand factor antigen content and catalase activity. The results demonstrated that the treatment of gilts with ZEN at a dose below no observable adverse effect level did not affect the primary hemostasis and the blood coagulation cascade. However, ZEN could have temporarily affected the selected indicators of endothelial cell function (increase of von Willebrand factor, decrease of nitric oxide levels) and the oxidative status plasma (decrease of catalase activity) of the exposed gilts. In summary, these results suggest that the adaptive response to ZEN-exposure can induce a transient imbalance in the vascular system by acting on vascular endothelial cells.

Updates on Laboratory Evaluation of Feline Cardiac Diseases

Laboratory tests can be altered in cardiovascular diseases and the investigation of specific tests or biomarkers may provide additional information about myocardial damage. Traditional laboratory tests, such as cell blood count, serum biochemistry, and coagulation, can be useful in investigating patients, but are not specific. However, markers like Troponin and Natriuretic Peptides may possibly furnish further data on myocardium damage and can be used in both studying and monitoring cats with cardiac disease. Moreover, the evaluation of the thyroid profile is very important as hyperthyroid cats concomitant cardiovascular diseases are very common and they can also be a direct consequence of endocrinopathy. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide the widest possible overview of what is present in the literature about the feline clinical pathology of heart diseases through a rational division of the main alterations of traditional tests and biomarkers.