title: Evaluation of high-molecular weight adiponectin in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize adiponectin protein complexes in lean and obese horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  26 lean horses and 18 obese horses. Procedures-Body condition score (BCS) and serum insulin activity were measured for each horse. Denaturing and native western blot analyses were used to evaluate adiponectin complexes in serum. A human ELISA kit was validated and used to quantify high-molecular weight (HMW) complexes. Correlations between variables were made, and HMW values were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adiponectin was present as a multimer consisting of HMW (> 720-kDa), low-molecular weight (180-kDa), and trimeric (90-kDa) complexes in serum. All complexes were qualitatively reduced in obese horses versus lean horses, but the percentage of complexes < 250 kDa was higher in obese versus lean horses. High-molecular weight adiponectin concentration measured via ELISA was negatively correlated with serum insulin activity and BCS and was lower in obese horses (mean ± SD, 3.6 ± 3.9 μg/mL), compared with lean horses (8.0 ± 4.6 μg/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMW adiponectin is measurable via ELISA, and concentration is negatively correlated with BCS and serum insulin activity in horses. A greater understanding of the role of adiponectin in equine metabolism will provide insight into the pathophysiology of metabolic disease conditions.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University Auburn, AL 36849, USA. aaw0002@auburn.edu
authors: Anne A
authors: AA
authors: Wooldridge
authors: Heather Gray
authors: HG
authors: Edwards
authors: Eric P
authors: EP
authors: Plaisance
authors: Rory
authors: R
authors: Applegate
authors: Debra R
authors: DR
authors: Taylor
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Taintor
authors: Qiao
authors: Q
authors: Zhong
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Judd
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D001823:Body Composition; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D007328:Insulin