Measurements of neck circumference and resting insulin and leptin concentrations can be used to screen obese horses for IR. Dyslipidemia is associated with IR in obese horses.

Immunohistochemistry allows the localization of proteins to specific regions of the nephron. This article reports the identification and localization of proteins in situ within normal canine, feline, and mouse kidney by immunohistochemistry; maps their distribution; and compares results to previously reported findings in other species. The proteins investigated are aquaporin 1, aquaporin 2, calbindin D-28k, glutathione S-transferase-a, and Tamm-Horsfall protein. Aquaporins are integral membrane proteins involved in water transport across cell membranes. Calbindin D-28k is involved in renal calcium metabolism. Glutathione S-transferase-a is a protein that aids in detoxification and drug metabolism. The role of Tamm-Horsfall protein is not fully understood. Proposed functions include inhibition of calcium crystallization and reduction of bacterial urinary tract infection. The authors' findings in the dog are similar to those in other species: Specifically, the authors localize aquaporin 1 to the proximal convoluted tubule epithelium, vasa recta endothelium, and descending thin limbs; aquaporin 2 to collecting duct epithelium; and calbindin D-28k within distal convoluted tubule epithelium. Glutathione S-transferase-a has variable expression and is found in only the renal transitional epithelium in some individuals, in only the proximal straight tubules in others, or in both locations in others. Tamm-Horsfall protein localizes to thick ascending limb epithelium. These findings are similar in the cat, with the exception that aquaporin 1 is located in glomerular podocytes, in addition to proximal convoluted tubule epithelium, and glutathione S-transferase-a is found solely within the proximal convoluted tubule within all kidney samples examined. The mouse kidney is almost identical to the dog but expresses glutathione S-transferase-a in the glomeruli only.Keywords aquaporin, calbindin, canine, feline, glutathione S-transferase-a, immunohistochemistry, kidney, mouse, Tamm Horsfall protein Immunohistochemistry (IHC) utilizing aquaporin 1 (AQP1), aquaporin 2 (AQP2), glutathione S-transferase-a (GST-a), calbindin D-28k, and Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) antibodies has been used to localize these proteins to segments of the nephron in various species, including human and rat kidneys. 6,13,19,23,[25][26][27]30,39,40 Identification of specific segments of the nephron can be challenging histologically. AQP1, AQP2, THP, and calbindin D-28k have been used as nephron segment markers and utilized in double-labeling IHC to more exactly localize other proteins within the nephron of humans and rats.21 By localizing proteins of interest within the nephron, we can further elucidate the function of these proteins in renal physiology and pathophysiology and may be better able to identify nephron segments in disease states.Our study establishes the in situ location of proteins that have a distribution well documented in other species and identifies these proteins as nephron segment markers in the dog, cat, and mouse kidney. The pro...

The results of this study illustrate the potential of the dog as an animal model for human disease states and provide the framework for future studies of canine renal diseases.

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Southern giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei) are muroid rodents native to subSaharan Africa. They are increasinglyused as service animals because of their keen sense of smell and are primarily known for clearing minefields in Africa. Theobjectives of this study were to determine hematologic and biochemical reference intervals from clinically healthy wild-caught captive adult rats, to describe the cytochemical staining reactions of peripheral blood leukocytes, and to document urinalysis findings. Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal artery of 60 isoflurane-anesthetized rats (36 males and 24 females) and analyzed with automated hematologic and biochemical analyzers; manual differential cell counts were performed on modified Wright–stained blood smears. Urine was collected by cystocentesis, and dipsticks were analyzed on a urine analyzer, with visual examination of unstained sediments. Samples from a male rat with chronic renal disease were excluded from analysis. Reference intervals were determined according to guidelines established by the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Lymphocytes were the dominant leukocyte in peripheral blood and granular lymphocytes were identified in most animals. Male rats had significantly higher RBC, absolute reticulocyte counts, and MCV than did female rats. Minor sex-associated differences in urea nitrogen concentration and GGT activity were noted. Leukocytes showed unique cytochemical staining characteristics. Small amounts of protein and bilirubin were found in the urine of rats of both sexes and of female rats, respectively, particularly in concentrated urine. These results will provide benchmarks for determining health status and identifying disease in this species of rat.