title: Increased serum alanine aminotransferase activity associated with muscle necrosis in the dog.
abstract: Serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was consistently increased in dogs with canine X-linked muscular dystrophy (CXMD), a primary myopathy characterized by profound and on-going skeletal muscle necrosis. In order to determine whether the ALT was of liver origin, serum activity of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) obtained from dystrophic dogs was compared with enzyme activity present in clinically normal dogs. In dystrophic dogs at all ages tested, serum activity of CK, AST, and ALT was increased, and significant increases were present in dogs four weeks or older. In contrast, SDH activity in dystrophic dogs was not statistically different from values in clinically normal dogs. Ultrastructural examination of liver tissue revealed no evidence of hepatic degeneration in dystrophic dogs. It was concluded that increased serum activity of ALT in the dog may be associated with severe skeletal muscle degeneration, without concurrent hepatocellular necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Blue
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shelley
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D004285:Dogs; D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000201:enzymology*; D009336:Necrosis
chemical_list: D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase