Serum spexin concentration, body condition score and markers of obesity in dogs

Abstract

Background: Spexin (SPX) is a peptide hormone that regulates body weight, adipose tissue metabolism, and food intake. Hypothesis: Serum SPX concentration correlates with body condition score (BCS) and markers of obesity in dogs. Animals: Fifty-seven dogs of varying body condition assessed using a 5-point BCS. Methods: Prospective, nonblinded, observational cohort study. Serum SPX concentration was measured using commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) in dogs with varying BCS. Spexin mRNA and protein expression were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. Results: Serum SPX concentration was lower in dogs with BCS4 (8.56 +/- 2.86) and BCS5 (6.7 +/- 2.12) compared to BCS2 (11.96 +/- 2.23) and BCS3 (10.51 +/- 2.19; BCS2 vs BCS5, P