Michael S Tivers, Samantha M Mirczuk, Abigail Charlesworth, Lauren Wood, Emi N Barker, Victoria J Lipscomb, Robert C Fowkes
Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are vascular anomalies resulting in liver hypoplasia and hepatic insufficiency. Cats with CPSS typically show signs of hepatic encephalopathy associated with increased ammonia, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress. Surgical attenuation of the CPSS results in improved liver function, resolution of clinical signs, and increased portal blood flow. Hepatic gene expression has not previously been investigated in cats with CPSS. Here, we compared the hepatic expression of genes involved in the urea cycle ( CPS1 , NAGS ), angiogenesis ( VEGFR2 , NPPA , NPR1 , NPPC , NPR2 , HIF1a ), liver regeneration ( SERPINB1 , HGF , TGFβ ), and metabolism ( FGF21 ) from a small series of cats ( n = 18) with CPSS to that of control cats ( n = 10)...
February 26, 2024: Veterinary Sciences