Effects of short-term fasting on lipid and lipoprotein concentrationes in healthy lean dogs

Abstract

Introduction. Analysis of canine lipoprotein fractions after agarose gel electrophoresis (agEF) separation could be an important diagnostic tool in primary and secondary dyslipidemia diagnosis. The aim of this study was to measure concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol and to analyze lipoprotein fractions in dogs after basal (12 hours) and short-term (24 and 36 hours) fasting, i.e., frequent conditions in clinical practice. Materials and Methods. Blood samples were collected from six lean dogs of both sexes and different breeds, after 12, 24 and 36 hours of fasting. Concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol were determined on an automated wet biochemistry analyzer, lipoprotein fractions were separated by agEF and leukocyte numbers were assessed on an automated hematology analyzer. Results and Conclusions. Results showed there was no significant change in glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations nor in leukocyte numbers during dog fasting. Moreover, there was no change in α1- and α2-fractions, but there was a significant decrease in preβ- and β-fraction of lipoproteins. It is know that high density lipoproteins (HDL) have α-mobility and very low density (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) have preβ- and β-mobility. Thus, it is possible that reverse cholesterol transport maintained by HDL is not affected during short-term fasting. On the contrary, synthesis of VLDL and formation of LDL are probably decreased because endogenous synthesis of triglycerides is decreased or their clearance is increased.

Keywords

• agarose gel electrophoresis
• lipoprotein fractions
• cholesterol
• triglycerides