J Vet Sci.  2020 Jan;21(1):e7. 10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e7.

Age-specific variations in hematological and biochemical parameters in middle- and large-sized of dogs

• Lee SH
• Kim JW
• Lee BC
• Oh HJ

• KMID: 2469022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e7

Abstract

Aging triggers cellular and molecular alterations, including genomic instability and organ dysfunction, which increases the risk of disease in mammals. Recently, due to the markedly growing number of aging dogs in the world, as much as 49% in total number of pet dogs, it is necessary to improve and maintain their quality of life by understanding of the biological effects of aging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine specific biomarkers in aging dogs as a means of defining a set of hematological/biochemical biomarkers that influence the aging process. Blood samples were collected from younger (1-3 years) and older (7-10 years) dogs of middle/large size. The hematological/biochemistry analysis was performed to evaluate parameters significantly associated with age. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to target growth hormone (GH)/insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), one of the main regulators of the aging process. Declining levels of total protein and increased levels of glucose in young dogs was observed regardless of their body size. Notably, a significantly high concentration of GH and IGF-1 in the younger dogs compared to the older dogs was found in middle/large-sized dogs. GH and IGF-1 were also found at significantly high levels in large-sized dogs compared to middle-sized dogs, suggesting a similar trend to that of elderly humans. Consequently, glucose, total protein, GH, and IGF-1 were identified as potential biomarkers for regulating the aging process in large/middle-sized dogs. These findings provide an invaluable insight into the mechanism of aging for the field of aging research.

Keyword

Aging; dog; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; hematological test; biomarkers

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aging
Animals
Biomarkers
Body Size
Dogs*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Genomic Instability
Glucose
Growth Hormone
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Mammals
Quality of Life
Biomarkers
Glucose
Growth Hormone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Evaluation of (A) complete blood cell count and (B) serum biochemistry parameters in middle-sized dogs depending on their age. RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, MPV, WBC, Neut, Lymph, Mono, Eos, Baso, Leuk, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, BUN, Na, K, and Cl levels were analyzed. Bars represent normal reference intervals. The blood sample has been analyzed for one time per dog. RBC, red blood cell; HB, hemoglobin; PCV, packed cell volume; MCV, mean cell volume; MCH, mean cell hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; RDW, red cell distribution width; MPV, mean platelet volume; WBC, white blood cell; Neut, neutrophil; Lymph, lymphocyte; Mono, monocyte; Eos, eosinophil; Baso, basophil; Leuk, leukocyte; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma glutamyltransferase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; Na, sodium; K, potassium; Cl, chlorine; Young, younger dogs; Old, older dogs. *,† Within the groups, values with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2. Evaluation of (A) complete blood cell count and (B) serum biochemistry parameters in large-sized dogs depending on their age. RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, MPV, WBC, Neut, Lymph, Mono, Eos, Baso, Leuk, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, BUN, Na, K, and Cl levels were analyzed. Bars represent normal reference intervals. The blood sample has been analyzed for one time per dog. RBC, red blood cell; HB, hemoglobin; PCV, packed cell volume; MCV, mean cell volume; MCH, mean cell hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; RDW, red cell distribution width; MPV, mean platelet volume; WBC, white blood cell; Neut, neutrophil; Lymph, lymphocyte; Mono, monocyte; Eos, eosinophil; Baso, basophil; Leuk, leukocyte; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; GGT, gamma glutamyltransferase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; Na, sodium; K, potassium; Cl, chlorine; Young, younger dogs; Old, older dogs. *,† Within groups, values with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3. (A) Concentration of GH and IGF-1 from serum in younger and older dog groups without classification of their body size. (B) Concentration of GH and IGF-1 from serum in younger and older dogs in large-sized group and middle-sized group. At least 3 times replications were performed. GH, growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin growth factor-1; Young, younger dogs; Old, older dogs. *,† Within groups, values with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 4. (A) Concentration of GH and IGF-1 from serum in large and middle-sized dogs without classification of their ages. (B) Concentration of GH and IGF-1 from serum in larger and middle-sized dogs in younger dogs and older dogs. At least 3 times replications were performed. GH, growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin growth factor-1; Large, large-sized dogs; Middle, middle-sized dogs. *,† Within groups, values with different superscript letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

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