Altered metabolome and lipidome profiling in fearful companion dogs

ABSTRACT:

Behavioral dysfunctions in dogs represent one of the main social concerns, since they can endanger animals and human-dog relationship. Together with the trigger stimulus (human, animal, place, scent, auditory stimuli, object), dogs can experience stressful situations, either in multiple settings or unique situations, more often turning into generalized fear. Such a dysfunctional behavior can be associated with genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, traumatic experiences, and medical conditions. The available therapy, based on behavior, environmental management, and neurochemical manipulation through nutrition, supplements, medicines, and pheromones, represent the main stays of the treatments currently accessible. Growing evidence in humans and animals highlight the importance of the gut-brain axis in the modulation of the brain physiology and behavior. Here, taking advantage of the next generation sequencing approach we sought to investigate the potential connection between gut microbiota and generalized fear dogs (n=8), when compared to healthy subjects (n=8), who lived in 16 different families. Then, using targeted LC-MS/MS method, we evaluated the metabolomics signature in the patients. Our results showed differentially abundance analysis in taxa related to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes Phyla, significantly altered in fearful dogs. In addition, metabolome analysis on the blood serum of the same showed significant alterations of molecules associated to GABA and glutamate neurotransmission in the patients, as well as bile acids metabolism. Overall, our preliminary and integrated investigations highlighted an intriguing role for the microbiome-metabolome network, allowing to further unveil the potential pathophysiology of relational issues in companion animals and paving the way for more effective therapeutical approaches. Accordingly, lipids are regarded as main components of the brain structure and facilitate a wide range of neuronal activities, ranging from energy-storing enzyme cofactors, emulsifying agents, vitamins, hormones, intercellular messengers and structural components of cell membranes. So, we investigated the serum lipidome profiles of fearful family dogs using a targeted lipidomic approach. Out of 26 differentially abundant lipids, we identified 17 phosphatidylcholine species increased in the diseased group compared to healthy subjects. Of these, were statistically validated and included in a combination of lipids operating as disease biomarkers. Collectively, our data pave the way for a deeper characterization of the impact of lipid dysregulation upon mood-related dysfunctions in dogs, and for identifying diagnostic biomarkers in the veterinary practice to cope with this neuropsychiatric disorder.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse phase, Flow injection analysis MS - positive, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS11669 | MetaboLights | 2025-06-17

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights