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Plasma leptin concentration in donkeys.
Abstract: Donkeys appear to be more predisposed than large breed horses to suffer from hyperlipemia. The reason for that predisposition is unknown but anorexia is a consistent feature of the disease. Leptin, a protein synthesized in fat tissue, is one of the major inhibitors of appetite in mammals. Objective: We hypothesized that donkeys could have elevated plasma leptin concentrations compared to horses. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 50 donkeys for measurement of leptin, triglycerides (TGs), glucose, and insulin. Glucose/insulin ratio, modified insulin to glucose ratio, and reciprocal of the square root of insulin were calculated. Based on their body condition score (BCS), donkeys were classified as lean (n = 18), normal (n = 16), or overweight (n = 16). The results were compared with reference values from our laboratory and with a group of horses (n = 25) used as an internal control. Results: Values of both leptin and TGs in donkeys were above the horse reference range and also significantly higher than those of the control horses: leptin (11.2 ± 1.7 versus 5.8 ± 0.5 µg/L, p < 0.05) and TGs (0.93 ± 0.1 versus 0.54 ± 0.1 mmol/L, p < 0.01). Overweight donkeys had leptin (19.3 ± 2.9 µg/L) and TG (1.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L) concentrations that were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than normal (9.4 ± 3.3 µg/L and 0.85 ± 0.1 mmol/L, respectively) and lean (5.5 ± 1.0 µg/L and 0.66 ± 0.1 mmol/L, respectively) donkeys. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) was found between BCS and leptin (r = 0.43), TGs (r = 0.46), glucose (r = 0.41), and insulin (r = 0.40). Conclusions: Donkeys have higher plasma leptin concentrations than horses and leptin is correlated with BCS.
Publication Date: 2012-04-11 PubMed ID: 22493943DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2012.677867Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study explores the relationship between plasma leptin concentration and body condition in donkeys, with an underlying assumption that higher leptin levels could explain the species’ particular predisposition to hyperlipemia when compared to large-breed horses.
Objective and Hypothesis
The objective of this study was to compare plasma leptin concentrations in donkeys with those in horses, to potentially shed light on why donkeys may be more prone to hyperlipemia. The hypothesis was that donkeys could have elevated plasma leptin concentrations compared to horses. Leptin, a protein produced in fat tissue, serves as a major appetite inhibitor in mammals. Hyperlipemia is a condition characterised by high levels of fats, notably triglycerides, in the blood.
Methods
- Blood samples were taken from 50 study donkeys for testing the levels of leptin, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin. Further calculations were done to determine the glucose/insulin ratio and an adjusted insulin to glucose ratio and reciprocal of the root of insulin.
- The donkeys were grouped into lean, normal, and overweight categories based on their body condition score (BCS). The resulting values were compared with laboratory reference values and a control group of horses.
Results
- The study found that values of both leptin and triglycerides in donkeys were above the horse reference range as well as significantly higher than those of the control horses.
- An increase in leptin and triglycerides was observed in overweight donkeys compared to normal and lean ones, supporting the notion that these indicators correlate with BCS.
- The research identified a significant positive correlation between BCS and not just leptin and triglycerides, but also glucose and insulin.
Conclusion
The research concluded that donkeys indeed have higher plasma leptin concentrations than horses. Furthermore, a correlation was found between leptin levels and BCS, suggesting that an increase in BCS (i.e. overweight or obese state) might lead to increased leptin concentrations. The findings of the study can be considered of practical importance in drawing attention to a potential biological factor that could elevate risk and contribute to the management of hyperlipemia in donkeys.
Cite This Article
APA
Díez E, López I, Pérez C, Pineda C, Aguilera-Tejero E.
(2012).
Plasma leptin concentration in donkeys.
Vet Q, 32(1), 13-16.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2012.677867 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departmento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Glucose
- Equidae / blood
- Female
- Insulin / blood
- Leptin / blood
- Male
- Triglycerides / blood
Citations
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