Hepatic hepcidin gene expression in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Microcytic anemia is common in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) and typically resolves after surgical attenuation of the anomalous vessel. However, the pathophysiology of the microcytic anemia remains poorly understood. Hepcidin has been a key role in controlling iron transport in both humans and animals and in mediating anemia of inflammatory disease in humans. The role of hepcidin in the development of microcytic anemia in dogs with a cPSS has not been examined.

Hypothesis

To determine whether hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression decreases, while red blood cell count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increase in dogs after surgical attenuation of a cPSS.

Animals

Eighteen client-owned dogs with confirmed cPSS undergoing surgical attenuat

SUBMITTER: Frowde PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4857939 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature