Gołyński M, Metyk M, Ciszewska J, Szczepanik MP, Fitch G, Bęczkowski PM. Homocysteine-Potential Novel Diagnostic Indicator of Health and Disease in Horses.
Animals (Basel) 2023;
13:ani13081311. [PMID:
37106874 PMCID:
PMC10135347 DOI:
10.3390/ani13081311]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Homocysteine is an endogenous, non-protein sulfuric amino acid, an intermediate metabolite formed by the methionine transmethylation reaction. Its elevated serum concentration in humans, hyperhomocysteinemia, is a sensitive indicator and a risk factor for coagulation disorders, cardiovascular diseases and dementia. However, the role of homocysteine in veterinary species has not been unequivocally established. Although some research has been conducted in dogs, cats, cattle and pigs, relatively few studies on homocysteine have been conducted in horses. So far, it has been established in this species that homocysteine has an atherogenic effect, plays a role in early embryo mortality and is responsible for the induction of oxidative stress. These preliminary findings support establishing a reference range in a normal population of horses, including horses in training and merit further investigations into the role of this amino acid in health and disease in this species.
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