title: Expression of urocortin peptides in canine myocardium and plasma.
abstract: Urocortin (Ucn) peptides are the endogenous ligands for the corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptor (CRFR2). They have potentially important roles in cardiovascular physiology in health and disease, and show promise as therapeutics for congestive heart failure. Analysis of canine heart tissue showed mRNA expression of Ucn 1, Ucn 3 and CRFR2 in all heart chambers. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated Ucns 1 and 3 expression in cardiomyocytes. To assess the potential usefulness of circulating Ucns as markers of heart disease, plasma samples from 45 dogs with cardiac disease and 15 controls were analysed by radioimmunoassay. Both Ucns 1 and 3 were measurable but the presence of cardiac disease did not alter their concentrations. Therefore, whilst Ucns are expressed in canine myocardium (where they may play a role in the endogenous neurohumoral response to cardiac disease or failure) they do not appear to be sensitive biomarkers of cardiac disease in our canine patient population.
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Gemma Fraga
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Veloso
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ohad
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Brownstein
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Culshaw
authors.forename: Wylie W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Anne T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Pauline M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jamieson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D054832:Urocortins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins