Analysis of Avian Plasma for the Presence of Advanced Glycation End Products

Abstract

Sustained elevated plasma glucose concentrations in humans leads to the non-enzymatic binding of glucose to serum albumin forming glycated albumin. Subsequent chemical rearrangement of the glycated albumin molecule leads to the formation of Amadori products and Schiff bases and finally to the formation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs). The AGEs bind to receptors on vascular endothelial cells (RAGE), which lead to an intracellular cascade of reactions that changes the function and permeability of these cells with the subsequent leakage of excessive amount of fluid into interstitial spaces. It has been demonstrated that birds, as a normal aspect of their physiology, have high plasma glucose concentrations. This would lead us to hypothesize that birds may have higher concentrations of AGEs in their plasma compared to mammals of similar body mass. In preliminary studies, avian plasma was analyzed for the concentration of pentosidine (a type of AGE) using HPLC. The data suggest the presence of pentosidine in plasma of Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). Further analyses will be carried out in attempts to identify the presence of other AGEs in avian plasma.