Canine endocrinopathies, such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocortism,induce typical dermatological alterations. Collagen fibers are significant for the maintenance of structural integrity,as well as in the determination of tissue function. This study aimed at assessing the coloration caused by Picrosirius Red staining under circular polarization and Masson Trichrome staining, as tools to quantify the total collagen in the skin of dogs exhibiting endocrine dermatopathies. Skin samples taken from dogs with hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism were stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Masson’s Trichrome (MT) and Picrosirius Red (PSR). The animals with hyperadrenocorticism revealed a higher percentage of collagen area than did the animals with hypothyroidism PSRp (hypothyroidism = 43.76 ± 0.8255 and hyperadrenocorticism = 47.08 ± 0.8584). The percentage of the collagen area using MT between the groups is given in parenthesis (hypothyroidism = 52.06 ± 0.9371, hyperadrenocorticism = 61 ± 0.7529 and control = 56.88 ± 0.64) (p <0.05). It is therefore, evident that the special stains employed are useful in estimating the percentage of collagen area in the skin, as they revealed that dogs with hypothyroidism had lower collagen deposition whereas those animals with hyperadrenocorticism showed higher quantity of collagen in the dermis.

Background and Aim: Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common health issues in obese (OB) cats. In humans, obesity leads to alterations in adipokine and proinflammatory cytokine secretion, causing persistent inflammation. The inflammatory impact of obesity in cats remains unproven. This study investigated associations between obesity and inflammatory and metabolic changes in three groups of client-owned Brazilian domestic shorthair cats: naturally lean, overweight (OW), and OB. Materials and Methods: Cats from the Veterinary Hospital of Professor Sylvio Barbosa e Cardoso (FAVET/UECE) were clinically evaluated. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical profile measurements, and part of the serum was used for measuring adipokine and inflammatory cytokines using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In both the OW and OB groups, serum cholesterol and insulin concentrations increased, while triglyceride concentrations were notably elevated in the OB group. In the OW and OB groups, serum adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β levels were elevated, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the OB group. Conclusion: This study is the first in Brazil to reveal increased serum levels of inflammatory markers in OW and OB client-owned felines. OW cats exhibited higher proinflammatory marker levels, implying obesity-induced inflammation. Keywords: adipokines, cytokines, feline, obese.

The isomeric mixture of alpha and beta amyrin (AMY), present in the resin of Protium heptaphyllum, is popularly used as anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer. The literature has been demonstrating pharmacological activities of these triterpenes in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and in the gastrointestinal and immunological systems. This study traces a toxicological profile of amyrin, aiming to provide information that may clarify its safety. Nine female Wistar rats (170 to 200 g) were divided into three groups of three animals each (control, amyrin 300 and amyrin 2000 mg kg-1, p.o.), which were evaluated by protocols preconized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Open field Test and Malone Hippocratic Screening Scale were performed. AMY, mostly at 2000 mg kg-1, reduced the number of crossings by 57% vs. saline (22.67 ± 2.40) and the number of rearing by 53% vs. saline (42.67 ± 2.96), but increased the number of grooming by 26% vs. saline (1.66 ± 0.33). AMY (2000 mg kg-1) increased the serum glucose by 77% vs. saline (126.70 ± 4.33 mg dL-1), triglycerides by 50% vs. saline (78.67 ± 2.18 mg dL-1) and uric acid by 65% vs. saline (0.73 ± 0.03 mg dL-1). AMY induced vascular congestion and hemorrhage in the liver, spleen and cerebral cortex. Renal changes (cellular damage, inflammatory infiltrate, tubular protein deposition and glomeruli atrophy) were also seen. In conclusion, AMY decreased rat locomotor activity, caused minor biochemical changes, and altered the morphology of the kidney. The present study may contribute to deepen the knowledge about the safety of AMY, aiming the development of a novel pharmacological product.

Cissus sicyoides leaves are used in the Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammatory processes and its polysaccharide-rich extract possesses healing effect. This study aimed to obtain and perform chemical analysis of the polysaccharide-rich extract (PE-Cs) and the tea (Tea-Cs) from C. sicyoides leaves and to investigate its anti-inflammatory effect. Mice received PE-Cs or Tea-Cs before inflammatory stimuli. Paw edema and hypernociception were induced by carrageenan, histamine, PGE2, TNF-α or L-arginine and analyzed by plethysmometry/histopathology and analgesimetry. Both peritoneal cavity and naïve peritoneal macrophages were incubated with PE-Cs before being stimulated with carrageenan, and fluids evaluated for inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. PE-Cs (0.86% yield; 25.4% total carbohydrates, including 9.8% uronic acid) at 0.01 mg/kg inhibited the edema induced by carrageenan (58%), histamine (37%), TNF-α (46%) and L-arginine (73%). Histological analysis showed reduction of leukocyte infiltration and hemorrhage. PE-Cs and Tea-Cs [56% yield; 40.1% carbohydrates (5.1% uronic acid)] inhibited the carrageenan-edema by 60%. In the peritoneal fluid, PE-Cs reduced total protein (27%), neutrophil migration (92%), NO2- (20%), and MPO (1.8x), while increased GSH (2.2x). In vitro, PE-Cs reduced NO2- (30%) released by activated macrophages. PE-Cs and Tea-Cs inhibit acute inflammatory mediators elicited by carrageenan in mice.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) can be defined as a spectrum of diseases associated with a sudden onset of a renal failure status, the feline patient has azotemia, the disorder in fractional electrolyte excretion (FE), and shedding of epithelial cells from renal tubular segments observed in the urinary sediment. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the FE, plasma and urinary osmolality, and urinary specific gravity (USG) in cats that spontaneously developed AKI due to urethral obstruction (UO) and healthy cats. Blood and urine samples were collected from a group of 20 cats diagnosed with AKI secondary to urethral obstruction (GAKI; n=20) and clinically healthy cats (GC; n=15). The serum creatinine (sCre) and urinary creatinine (uCre), were measured by spectrophotometry, serum and urinary analyzes of sodium, potassium and chloride by ion selective electrode device and serum and urinary osmolarity by osmometer. The GAKI results were statistically compared with those of the CG using Student's t tests to assess normal data, while the Maan-Whitney test was used for non-normal data. A significant increase in the sCr, sK, FENa, FECl and RFI parameters of the GAKI cats when compared to the GC (p < 0.05). The sCl, USG, uCr, uK and uOSM parameters decreased significantly when compared between the two groups. Thus, given the established methodology and the results found, it is possible to infer that an increase in EFNa, EFCl in addition to the RFI and a decrease in USG and uOSM were associated with cats with AKI and can serve as markers of kidney damage, as well as monitoring the prognosis.