title: Non-invasive assessment of animal exercise stress: real-time PCR of GLUT4, COX2, SOD1 and HSP70 in avalanche military dog saliva.
abstract: Exercise has been shown to increase mRNA expression of a growing number of genes. The aim of this study was to assess if mRNA expression of the metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes GLUT4 (glucose transporter 4), COX2 (cyclooxygenase 2), SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and HSP70 (heat shock protein 70) in saliva changes following acute exercise stress in dogs. For this purpose, 12 avalanche dogs of the Italian Military Force Guardia di Finanza were monitored during simulation of a search for a buried person in an artificial avalanche area. Rectal temperature (RT) and saliva samples were collected the day before the trial (T0), immediately after the descent from a helicopter at the onset of a simulated avalanche search and rescue operation (T1), after the discovery of the buried person (T2) and 2 h later (T3). Expressions of GLUT4, SOD1, COX2 and HSP70 were measured by real-time PCR. The simulated avalanche search and rescue operation was shown to exert a significant effect on RT, as well as on the expression of all metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes investigated, which peaked at T2. The observed expression patterns indicate an acute exercise stress-induced upregulation, as confirmed by the reductions in expression at T3. Moreover, our findings indicate that saliva is useful for assessing metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes without the need for restraint, which could affect working dog performance.
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Ethology and Animal Welfare (LEBA),Department of Veterinary Medicine,via San Costanzo 4,0126 Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diverio
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Veterinary Medicine,via San Costanzo 4,0126 Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guelfi
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Veterinary Medicine,via San Costanzo 4,0126 Perugia,Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.affiliation: 3Guardia di Finanza,Direzione Veterinaria e Cinofili,viale XXI Aprile 51,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Di Mari
authors.affiliation: 4Guardia di Finanza,Servizio Cinofili,Centro Addestramento e Allevamento Cani,Via Lungolago 46,06061 Castiglione Del Lago (PG),Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Egidi
authors.affiliation: 4Guardia di Finanza,Servizio Cinofili,Centro Addestramento e Allevamento Cani,Via Lungolago 46,06061 Castiglione Del Lago (PG),Italy.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055875:Avalanches; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1