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PeerJ2019; 7; e7069; doi: 10.7717/peerj.7069

Impact of body weight gain on hepatic metabolism and hepatic inflammatory cytokines in comparison of Shetland pony geldings and Warmblood horse geldings.

Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is known as determining part of human obesity. The impact of body weight (BW) gain on liver metabolism has not been extensively investigated yet. Objective: To investigate hepatic alterations caused by increasing BW in ponies and horses. Methods: A total of 19 non-obese equines (10 Shetland ponies, geldings; nine Warmblood horses, geldings). Methods: Animals received 200% of their metabolizable maintenance energy requirements for 2 years. Serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities and bile acids were analyzed several times during 2 years of hypercaloric diet. Hepatic lipid content and hepatic levels of the interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, IL-1β, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid-binding protein 1, chemerin and nuclear factor-κB mRNAs were assessed at the start of the study and after 1 and 2 years of excess energy intake. Results: The mean (±SD) BW gain recorded during 2 years of excess energy intake was 29.9 ± 19.4% for ponies and 17 ± 6.74% for horses. The hepatic lipid content was not profoundly affected by increasing BW. Levels of the IL-6, TNFα, CD68 and IL-1β mRNAs did not change during BW gain. Levels of the chemerin mRNA increased significantly in both breeds (ponies: P = 0.02; horses: P = 0.02) in response to BW gain. Significant differences in serum GLDH and AST activities, serum bile acid concentrations and hepatic levels of the LPL mRNA were observed between ponies and horses at the end of the study. Conclusions: Chemerin might represent an interesting marker for future equine obesity research. Interestingly, steatosis caused by increasing BW may occur later in the development of obesity in equines than in humans. Additionally, the hepatic metabolism exhibits differences between ponies and horses, which may explain in part the greater susceptibility of ponies to obesity-associated metabolic dysregulations.
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Publication Date: 2019-06-07 PubMed ID: 31211018PubMed Central: PMC6557249DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7069Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates how weight gain impacts liver metabolism and inflammatory cytokines in Shetland pony geldings and Warmblood horse geldings, with a focus on equine obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is important because understanding the impact of weight gain on equine liver metabolism can provide insights into the development of obesity and related metabolic disorders in horses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study involved 19 non-obese equines – 10 Shetland pony geldings and nine Warmblood horse geldings.
  • The equines were subjected to a diet containing 200% of their metabolizable maintenance energy requirements for a duration of 2 years to induce weight gain.
  • Various liver markers, such as serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities and bile acids were analyzed periodically during the study.
  • Additionally, the researchers assessed hepatic lipid content and hepatic levels of various inflammatory molecules such as IL-6, TNFα, CD68, IL-1β, LPL, fatty acid-binding protein 1, chemerin and nuclear factor-κB at the beginning of the study and after 1 and 2 years of excess energy intake.

Key Findings

  • The average weight gain recorded over the study period was 29.9% for ponies and 17% for horses.
  • Despite significant weight gain, hepatic lipid content wasn’t strongly impacted.
  • The levels of hepatic interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, and IL-1β mRNAs remained stable during the weight gain.
  • Levels of the chemerin mRNA significantly increased in both breeds in response to weight gain.
  • Notable differences were found between ponies and horses in terms of serum GLDH and AST activities, serum bile acid concentrations and hepatic levels of the LPL mRNA at the end of the study.

Conclusions

  • The study suggested that chemerin could be a valuable marker for future research on equine obesity.
  • The finding that steatosis (fatty liver disease) may occur later in the development of obesity in equines than in humans is particularly interesting and warrants further investigation.
  • The study’s results also suggest that hepatic metabolism varies between ponies and horses, which might partially explain why ponies are more susceptible to obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Cite This Article

APA
Schedlbauer C, Blaue D, Gericke M, Blüher M, Starzonek J, Gittel C, Brehm W, Vervuert I. (2019). Impact of body weight gain on hepatic metabolism and hepatic inflammatory cytokines in comparison of Shetland pony geldings and Warmblood horse geldings. PeerJ, 7, e7069. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7069

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: e7069

Researcher Affiliations

Schedlbauer, Carola
  • Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Blaue, Dominique
  • Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Gericke, Martin
  • Leipzig University, Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Blüher, Matthias
  • Leipzig University, Department of Medicine, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Starzonek, Janine
  • Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Gittel, Claudia
  • Leipzig University, Department for Horses, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Brehm, Walter
  • Leipzig University, Department for Horses, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Vervuert, Ingrid
  • Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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