Serum protein concentrations in femaledogs submitted to ovariohysterectomy determined by means of SDS-page electro-phoresis

Abstract

In this study 27 healthy dogs were spayed using cable ties as amethod of ligature of ovarian pedicles and uterine stump. Theywere divided in two groups, 18 adults (age: 11 months-7 years)and 9 young females (age: 3-9 months). Blood samples were col-lected from both groups to evaluate the protein fractions (acutephase proteins) in serum before the surgery (BS) and six monthsafter the surgery (AS) by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sul-phate-poliacrylamide gel. This study was approved by the AnimalExperimentation Ethics Committee (AEEC). Both groups showeda significant decrease in the results for ceruloplasmin concentra-tions six months after surgery (adults: BS 69 ± 30 mg/dL and AS35 ± 32 mg/dL, P = 0.003; young females: BS 74 ± 22 mg/dLand AS 47 ± 13 mg/dL, P = 0.017) indicating a possible relation-ship between the synthesis of this protein and the absence of 17-beta estradiol. The young females showed a significant increaseof alpha 1-antitrypsin after ovariohysterectomy (BS294 ± 113 mg/dL and AS 391 ± 125 mg/dL, P = 0.008). In thiscase, age may be responsible for this change. No statistically dif-ferences (P > 0.05) in transferrin, haptoglobin and alpha 1-acidglycoprotein concentrations were identified between groups.However, further investigations are needed to evaluate theeffects of ovariohysterectomy in acute phase protein concentra-tions over a shorter period of time.