EN02 - Plasma Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Concentrations in Dogs with Aminoaciduric Canine Hypoaminoacidemic Hepatopathy Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Abstract: Background – The cause of aminoaciduric canine hypoaminoacidemic hepatopathy syndrome (ACHES) is unknown; however, affected dogs are predisposed to diabetes mellitus. Glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are both critical for glucose regulation and the former for amino acid homeostasis.



Hypothesis/Objectives - To compare plasma concentrations of glucagon and GLP-1 between 8 heathy and ACHES dogs.




Animals - Healthy dogs (n = 5) and dogs with ACHES (n = 8; including ACHES-DM n =3).



Methods - Fasting and 15-minute postprandial plasma glucagon total GLP-1 concentrations were measured with commercial assays.




Results - Dogs with ACHES had lower fasting (P = .0214) and postprandial (P = .0024) plasma glucagon concentrations than healthy controls. Dogs with ACHES had significantly (P = .0113) lower postprandial plasma GLP-1 concentrations than controls. There was no significant difference between fasting GLP-1 levels between the two groups.



Conclusions and clinical importance - Lower postprandial plasma GLP-1 concentrations suggest a contributing role to the propensity of DM in ACHES dogs. Additional studies are needed to evaluate GLP-1’s role as an additional diagnostic or therapeutic target in ACHES.