BACKGROUND: Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine. Several studies have suggested that plasma Hcy may be a useful biomarker of cardiovascular disease in human. There is limited information about serum homocysteine in heart diseases of dogs.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the concentration of serum total Hcy and evaluate the relationship between its concentrations and serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and activities of creatine phosphokinase and aspartate aminotransferase in small breed of dogs with endocardiosis.METHODS: For this purpose, a total of 15 dogs (seven males and eight females) with acquired endocardiosis were confirmed by clinical examination, auscultation, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. In addition, 15 normal dogs of the similar age, breed, and weight were selected as the controls. All the examinations performed on the patients were carried out on the healthy dogs. Homocysteine was measured via an enzymatic method. Additionally, the activities of CPK and AST and the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed utiling commercial kits. Subsequently, the data were analyzed with t- student test and one- way ANOVA and Pearson’s linear correlation test was used to determine the relationship between serum homocysteine levels with triglycerides, cholesterol, CPK, and AST.RESULTS: The results revealed no significant differences concerning serum homocysteine level and AST activity between the two groups; meanwhile, the increase in serum triglycerides and CPK activities in dogs with heart disease was statistically significant compared to that in the control group. However, there was no significant correlation between homocysteine and the other measured parameters.CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that the role of homocysteine as a new risk factor associated with dog endocardiosis is questionable and it seems as if in human studies related to homocysteine and heart disease, the selection of dog as animal model requires further investigation.

Body condition scoring (using a 5-point with quarter-point divisions) was performed on 66 Holstein dairy cows that began their second or later lactation in August, September, or October 1988. Cows' body condition was scored beginning on postpartum day 4 (+/- 1) and subsequently at postpartum days (+/- 1) 18, 32, 46, 60, 73 and 87. Blood samples were obtained on the same dates. Reproductive health examinations were conducted by 1 of 2 veterinarians beginning at postpartum day 21. Reproductive performance was evaluated in relation to body condition score and serum urea nitrogen and cholesterol concentrations. Number of days to first recorded signs of estrus and first breeding were not related to body condition score at calving, amount of condition loss, cumulative 80-day milk yield, or 305-day fat corrected milk yield. Cows that calved with body condition score greater than or equal to 3.50 required more days to conceive. Cows losing > 0.75 points of condition had longer days of conception. Body condition score at calving and amount of condition lost were not related to services per conception or diagnosis of follicular cyst. Cumulative 80-day milk yield was not related to days to conception or services per conception. Cows that produced greater than or equal to the mean 305-day milk yield required more services and had longer days to conception than cows that produced < the mean 305-day milk yield. Cows with diagnosis of ovarian follicular cysts had greater cumulative 80- and 305-day milk yields than did cows that were not diagnosed with follicular cysts. Cows conceiving with less than or equal to 2 services did not differ in average daily milk production, body condition score, or serum urea nitrogen concentration from cows conceiving with > 2 services, but cows that conceived with less than or equal to 2 services had higher serum cholesterol values than did cows requiring more services.

Epidemiologic relations were evaluated between plasma concentrations of nutrients and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 220 cats were assessed: 144 cats with noninduced acquired heart disease and 76 clinically normal cats. Plasma was assayed for taurine, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, retinol, and total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Cardiovascular disease groups included dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 53), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 28), hyperthyroidism (n = 11), and uncertain classification (n = 52). In cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, mean plasma taurine concentration was the lowest of that in cats of any group, being only 38% of the value in healthy cats; females had less than half the mean value of males. Tocopherol concentration was 20% lower than normal, and retinol concentration was 40% higher than normal. Total cholesterol concentration was 36% lower than normal. Triglycerides concentration was higher in these cats than in any other group-twice the value recorded in healthy cats and 67% higher than that in hyperthyroid cats. In cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, almost 15% had mean plasma taurine concentration < 30 micromol/L. Retinol concentration was 15% higher, and triglycerides concentration was 54% higher than normal. Approximately 27% of hyperthyroid cats had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Hyperthyroid cats had the lowest tocopherol and cholesterol values; both were at least 30% lower than normal. Retinol concentration was 30% higher than Approximately 14% of cats with uncertain classification had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Plasma retinol and triglycerides concentrations were higher than normal in 25 and 38% of these cats, respectively. Plasma selenium concentration, compared between healthy cats and cats with cardiac disease, was not significantly different. This observation may not be meaningful, however, in light of the limited number of cats in which selenium was assessed.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of negative energy balance (NEB) on the final growth of the dominant ovarian follicle in Holstein cows. Cows at 14 to 21 d postpartum from an intensive dairy farm were randomly selected and allocated into a positive energy balance group (PEB, with β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) level < 1.2 mmol/L, n = 15) and an NEB group (BHBA > 1.2 mmol/L, n = 15). Plasma samples were collected at 21, 50 and 55 d postpartum to assess the concentrations of energy metabolites, minerals, hormones and cytokines. Ovaries were examined by transrectal ultrasound on days 50 and 55 (120 hours later) to evaluate the diameter of the largest follicle. Compared with PEB cows, there were a more severe body condition loss and a lower milk yield in NEB cows (P < 0.05) and these had greater concentrations of plasma BHBA, non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, urea nitrogen, growth hormone, interleukin 6, and fibroblast growth factor 21 and lesser concentrations of plasma glucose, total cholesterol, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and angiopoietin-like protein 8 on d 21 (P < 0.05), while plasma minerals were not affected by energy status (P > 0.05). These changes persisted until the end of the study period (50–55 days postpartum) resulting in a lower follicular growth rate for cows in the NEB than the PEB group. These observations indicate that follicular growth rate is associated with measurable changes in energy metabolite, hormone and cytokine concentrations caused by early postpartum NEB.

Simvastatin is a substance which is commonly used as a medicine to reduce cholesterol level. Unfortunately, it shows numerous side effects. Simvastatin affects various internal organs, and among other detriments to health may cause persistent muscle weakness, osteolytic processes, headaches, and rashes. Until now knowledge of the influence of simvastatin on bone marrow cells has been rather scant and fragmentary. During this experiment the numbers of all types of cells in the leukocytic system of porcine bone marrow were evaluated after 28 and 56 days of oral administration of simvastatin at a dose of 40 mg/day/animal. Simvastatin caused an increase in the number of all types of cells in the leukocytic system, and the most visible fluctuations concerned promyelocytes. Observations obtained during the present study indicated that the results of the action of simvastatin on porcine bone marrow differ from those observed in other mammal species, including human. This may be due to various metabolic pathways within the bone marrow in the particular species, but the exact mechanisms of these actions are unknown at the present time.

Introduction: Statins are pharmacological agents commonly used to lower serum cholesterol level. The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of the statin simvastatin on thrombopoiesis in the porcine model because it is the closest to the human one regarding physiological and genetic similarities. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 32 pigs randomly divided into two equal groups: control and experimental. The pigs were treated for 28 and 56 days with simvastatin in a dose of 40 mg per day per animal. Cytological evaluation of bone marrow smears was performed to assess the average number of all types of cells during thrombopoiesis as was analysis of haematological parameters to assess PLT and MPV. Results: During the course of the experiment statistically significant changes in the number of promegakaryocytes were observed. Other parameters also showed some fluctuations during the study. However, these changes were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The obtained results clearly indicate a toxic influence of simvastatin on the process of thrombopoiesis and prove that statins reduce mean platelet volume, thus affecting the process of clot formation through the period of administration in a duration-dependent manner.

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the marbling score, fat and meat color, choles¬terol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and physical–chemical con¬tent of male Bali beef fed fermented pineapple peel. Materials and Methods: Twelve heads of male Bali cattle with an initial weight of 168.46 ± 11.95 kg were put into individual cages at random based on a completely randomized design with three treatments and four heads of Bali cattle as replicates, namely T0 = NG + (39% MC + 61% RB + 0% fermented pineapple peel); T1 = NG + (10% MC + 70% RB + 20% fermented pineapple peel with yeast culture); and T2 = NG + (15% MG + 65% RB + 20% pineapple peel fermented by lactic acid bacteria). The sample of Bali cattle meat used in testing the research variables was the LD muscle, with as many as 24 samples for each treatment. The data were analyzed based on the analysis of variance using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions software program, following Duncan's test with 5% confidence. Results: The results showed that the treatment T2 could increase the marbling quality of the meat from 2.58% to 4.00%. The cholesterol content (80 mg/100 gm), HDL (60 mg/100 gm), LDL (10 mg/100 gm), water-holding capacity (36.10%), cooking loss (29.16%), tenderness/shear force (4.08 kg/cm2), crude protein (22.99%), crude fat (4.23%), and meat collagen (1.65%) were determined. Conclusions: Adding 20% of fermented pineapple peel by lactic acid bacteria to the ration can improve the quality of marbling, produce cholesterol, and the physical–chemical value of meat that meets the Indonesian National Standard. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 419-431]