Nicole Regina Capacchi Hlavac

Clinicopathologic and electrocardiographic features of Akita dogs with high and low erythrocyte potassium phenotypes.

BACKGROUND Canine RBCs are expected to have high sodium and low potassium (LK) concentrations. However, some dogs have a low sodium and high potassium (HK) phenotype due to a Na-K pump in the mature RBC membrane. Awareness of this particularity avoids misinterpretation of hyperkalemia in affected dogs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the CBCs, serum biochemistry profiles, urinalysis data, and electrocardiography data in HK and LK Akita dogs. METHODS In this study, the intra-RBC potassium (KRBC) was measured in 48 healthy adult Akita dogs. The HK group included dogs with KRBC concentration at least 5-fold that of plasma, while the LK dogs served as controls. RESULTS The HK phenotype was determined in 10 dogs (21%). With the exception of higher plasma potassium concentrations in the HK group compared with LK controls (6.6 mmol/L vs 4.4 mmol/L, P < .001), there were no other differences in serum biochemistry variables. In hematology, mean HGB concentration (13.5 vs 15.9, P < .001), PCV (42.9 vs 46.7, P = .009), RBC (6.1 vs 7.4, P < .001), and MCHC (31.3 vs 34.0, P < .001) were significantly lower in the HK group, while MCV (70.0 vs 63.4, P < .001) was higher compared with the LK controls. There were no significant differences in urinalysis or electrocardiography data between groups. CONCLUSIONS HK Akita dogs showed significant differences in several hematologic variables, as well as higher plasma potassium concentration. Therefore, the HK phenotype should be considered in the interpretation of these variables in this breed.

Parâmetros hematológicos do roedor fossorial Ctenomys lami (Rodentia, Ctenomidae) no estado do Rio Grande do Sul

The hematological profile was determined in three populations of Ctenomys lami that inhabits three different areas nominated as A and B, affected by cattle production, and C, without human impact, all of them in southern Brazil, under the same geologic formation. Sixty two individuals were collected. The packed cell volume (PCV) values, hemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cell (RBC) count presents statistic significant differences between males and females. PCV and Hb values were lower in comparison with other subterranean rodents, which could be related to the food searching behavior or soil characteristic of the species. Significant statistic differences were found to for Hb, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and lymphocytes between animals belonging to A and C areas. The PCV values were higher for animals from areas A and B, with significance only between A and C. Some of these alterations may suggest a modification on stress levels of the animals inhabiting areas A and B with anthropic alterations, or maybe just an inherited characteristic. Significant statistic differences were found either in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) between A and C areas, and platelets between A and B areas. No Kurloff cells were observed in the blood smear from analyzed individuals. The hematological values founded for Ctenomys lami are an important information for this species, which can be used for future research and management.

Comparison of JC-1 and MitoTracker probes for mitochondrial viability assessment in stored canine platelet concentrates: A flow cytometry study: Mitochondrial Viability in Stored Platelets

Mitochondria perform crucial roles in many biochemical processes, and mitochondrial depolarization is an early sign of platelet apoptosis. The mitochondrial membrane potential is usually evaluated through JC‐1 probe, but it can also be assessed with MitoTracker probes. Our aim was to evaluate mitochondrial viability in stored canine platelet concentrates (PCs) with the fluorescent probes JC‐1 and MitoTracker. Platelets from 22 canine PCs were stained with JC‐1 and MitoTracker probes on days 1, 3, and 5 of storage. Data on metabolic parameters were also collected for correlation studies. Results of JC‐1 and MitoTracker revealed a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in day 5 of storage compared to days 1 and 3, providing evidence of mitochondrial depolarization, a finding that was confirmed by the data on metabolic parameters. MitoTracker probes also added information regarding platelet swelling. In conclusion, MitoTracker probes offered a more complete mitochondrial analysis in the evaluation of stored canine PCs.