Non-invasive assessment of animal exercise stress: real-time PCR of GLUT4, COX2, SOD1 and HSP70 in avalanche military dog saliva. (23rd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diverio, S.; Guelfi, G.; Barbato, O.; Di Mari, W.; Egidi, M. G.; Santoro, M. M.
• Is Part Of: Animal. Volume 9:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2014-09-23
• Subjects: Animal breeding -- Periodicals; Animal genetics -- Periodicals; Animal nutrition -- Periodicals; Animal physiology -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1017/S1751731114002304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7311

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Exercise has been shown to increase mRNA expression of a growing number of genes. The aim of this study was to assess if mRNA expression of the metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes <italic>GLUT4</italic> (glucose transporter 4), <italic>COX2</italic> (cyclooxygenase 2), <italic>SOD1</italic> (superoxide dismutase 1) and <italic>HSP70</italic> (heat shock protein 70) in saliva changes following acute exercise stress in dogs. For this purpose, 12 avalanche dogs of the <italic>Italian Military Force Guardia di Finanza</italic> were monitored during simulation of a search for a buried person in an artificial avalanche area. Rectal temperature (RT) and saliva samples were collected the day before the trial (T0), immediately after the descent from a helicopter at the onset of a simulated avalanche search and rescue operation (T1), after the discovery of the buried person (T2) and 2 h later (T3). Expressions of <italic>GLUT4</italic>, <italic>SOD1</italic>, <italic>COX2</italic> and <italic>HSP70</italic> were measured by real-time PCR. The simulated avalanche search and rescue operation was shown to exert a significant effect on RT, as well as on the expression of all metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes investigated, which peaked at T2. The observed expression patterns indicate an acute exercise stress-induced upregulation, as confirmed by the reductions in expression at T3. Moreover, our findings indicate that saliva is useful for assessing metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes without the need for restraint, which could affect working dog performance.</p> </abstract>