Expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in ovarian and uterine tissue during diestrus and open cervix cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra in the bitch

The assessment of haematologic and serum chemistry parameters in canine pyometra: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Pyometra is common in non-spayed adult female dogs requiring early diagnosis and treatment to increase the survival rate. The diagnosis of pyometra is mainly based on clinical examination and anamnesis. Radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory analyses are recommended to support a diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess blood parameters associated with pyometra by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A search of three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar and CAB abstracts) was performed in July 2022. Studies providing information about laboratory parameters for both the pyometra group and healthy control group dogs were eligible for inclusion. Data extraction included the first author's name, publication year, country, number of participants in both groups, mean values of selected studies, standard deviation values, and blood parameters. The risk of bias for each study was evaluated, and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

We included 44 studies which investigated 12 blood parameters. High heterogeneity was detected in all parameters in these meta-analyses. The following blood parameters were increased in dogs with pyometra: white blood cell (mean=27.75×109  L-1 , mean difference (MD)=17.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.85 to 19.47), monocytes (mean=2.06×1012 /L, MD=1.37, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.74), blood urea nitrogen (mean=41.42 mg/dL MD=18.06, 95% CI 12.26 to 23.85), alkaline phosphatase (mean=212.78 IU/L, MD=137.51, 95% CI 81.81 to 88.62), and aspartate aminotransferase (mean=48.31 IU/L, MD=16.96, 95% CI 10.61 to 23.30). The following parameters were reduced: red blood cell (mean=5.42 1012 /L, MD=-1.37, 95% CI -1.68 to -1.05), haemoglobin (mean=121.20 g/L, MD=-30.57, 95% CI -39.70 to 21.45), albumin (mean=23.71 g/L, MD = -8.16, 95% CI -11.46 to -4.86). Lymphocyte, creatinine, urea, and alanine transaminase parameters were increased in some studies and decreased in others.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In canine pyometra, some blood parameters are consistently increased, some consistently decreased, and some increased or decreased depending on the study.

Hypothyroidism Alters the Uterine Lipid Levels in Pregnant Rabbits and Affects the Fetal Size

BACKGROUND

Hypothyroidism has been related to low-weight births, abortion and prematurity, which have been associated with changes in the content of glycogen and vascularization of the placenta. Since hypothyroidism can cause dyslipidemia, it may affect the lipid content in the uterus affecting the development of fetuses.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of hypothyroidism on the lipid levels in serum and uterus during pregnancy and their possible association with the size of fetuses.

METHOD

Adult female rabbits were grouped in control (n = 6) and hypothyroid (n = 6; treated with methimazole for 29 days before and 19 days after copulation). Food intake and body weight were daily registered. At gestational day 19 (GD19), dams were sacrificed under an overdose of anesthesia. Morphometric measures of fetuses were taken. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TAG), and glucose concentrations were quantified in blood, uterus and ovaries of dams. The expression of uterine 3β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) was quantified by Western blot.

RESULTS

Hypothyroidism reduced food intake and body weight of dams, as well as promoted low abdominal diameters of fetuses. It did not induce dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia at GD19 and did not modify the content of lipids in the ovary. However, it reduced the content of TAG and TC in the uterus, which was associated with uterine hyperplasia and an increased expression of 3β-HSD in the uterus.

CONCLUSION

Hypothyroidism alters the lipid content in the uterus that might subsequently affect the energy production and lipid signaling important to fetal development.