title: Anti-glucagon-like peptide-1 immunoreactivity in samples of blood and ileum obtained from neonatal and adult alpacas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare numbers of L cells in intestinal samples and blood concentrations of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 between neonatal and mature alpacas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intestinal samples from carcasses of 4 suckling crias and 4 postweaning alpacas for immunohistochemical analysis and blood samples from 32 suckling crias and 19 healthy adult alpacas for an ELISA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining was conducted in accordance with Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory standard procedures with a rabbit polyclonal anti-GLP-1 primary antibody. Stained cells with staining results in ileal tissue were counted in 20 fields by 2 investigators, and the mean value was calculated. For quantification of GLP-1 concentrations, blood samples were collected into tubes containing a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor. Plasma samples were tested in duplicate with a commercial GLP-1 ELISA validated for use in alpacas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Counts of stained cells (mean ± SD, 50 ± 18 cells) and plasma GLP-1 concentrations (median, 0.086 ng/mL; interquartile range, 0.061 to 0.144 ng/mL) were higher for suckling alpacas than for postsuckling alpacas (stained cells, 26 ± 4 cells; plasma GLP-1 concentration, median, 0.034 ng/mL; interquartile range, 0.015 to 0.048 ng/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older alpacas had lower numbers of L cells in intestinal tissues and lower blood concentrations of GLP-1 than those in neonates. These findings suggested that there may be a decrease in the contribution of GLP-1 to insulin production in adult alpacas, compared with the contribution in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
authors.forename: Courtney C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cebra
authors.forename: Jerry R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Heidel
authors.forename: Bernadette V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Stang
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000097:blood*; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D054795:Incretins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054795:Incretins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1