Korean J Vet Res.  2016 Dec;56(4):205-208. 10.14405/kjvr.2016.56.4.205.

Serum serotonin concentration in lean and obese dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

• Kim KT
• Park HM
• Hyun C
• Seo KW
• Song KH

• KMID: 2368770
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2016.56.4.205

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential influence of obesity as a factor in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) dogs. Fifty-five client-owned dogs were enrolled in a randomized trial. Dogs were classified by echocardiography into healthy (control), mild, and moderate to severe MMVD groups. Each group was subclassified by using a 9-point body condition score (BCS); lean (BCS 5-6/9) and obese groups (BCS 7.5-9/9). Dogs with moderate to severe MMVD had lower serotonin (5-HT) concentrations than the control group (p = 0.03). Dogs with moderate to severe MMVD (p = 0.017) had lower serum 5-HT concentrations than the control group in the obese group (BCS 7.5-9/9). Significant difference was found between the lean and obese groups (p = 0.015) which are not consider severe in the MMVD group. These results suggested that 5-HT concentration was decreased with the increasing severity of MMVD, and obesity might be taken into consideration when interpreting the serotonin concentration in MMVD dogs.

Keyword

5-HT concentration; body condition score; dogs; myxomatous mitral valve disease; obesity