Effect of Estradiol and Progesterone on Metabolic Biomarkers in Healthy Bitches

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between hormonal changes that occur during oestrus and biomarkers related with glucose metabolism (glucose and insulin), lipid metabolism (lipidic profile and BChE) and adipokines (adiponectin and ghrelin) in healthy bitches. For this purpose, we measured these analytes in serum of bitches, at two times: before (T1) and after (T2) the LH peak that were established according to progesterone concentrations. Increased levels of total cholesterol (p<0.01), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.01), adiponectin (p<0.01) and ghrelin (p<0.05) were observed at T2 in comparison with T1. No statistically significant changes were observed in serum glucose, insulin, homoeostasis model assessment for insulin sensitivity (HOMA), triglycerides and BChE. When all data of T1 and T2 were pooled, serum adiponectin showed positive correlation with progesterone (r=0.353; p=0.022) and HDL-C (r=0.307; p=0.048), and negative with insulin (r=-0.429; p=0.005), HOMA (r=-0.446; p=0.003) and BChE (r=-0.522; p<0.001). Ghrelin showed negative correlation with estradiol (r=-0.701; p=0.004). BChE was negatively correlated with estradiol (r=-0.441; p=0.018) and glucose (r=-0.343; p=0.028), and positively with insulin (r=0.460; p=0.003) and HOMA (r=0.505; p<0.001). In conclusion, changes in metabolic biomarkers occur in bitches after LH peak, characterized by increased lipids (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol) without changes in BChE activity, and increased adiponectin and ghrelin concentrations, without significant changes in glucose and insulin.