Study summary · research use only
Vasoactive intestinal peptide in canine portosystemic shunt in the absence of portal hypertension
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This pilot study measured vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentrations in six dogs with an extrahepatic portosplenic shunt (congenital portosystemic shunt, PSS) during PSS ligation surgery. Blood samples were taken from the saphenous and portal veins and VIP was measured using a commercial canine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Breeds included Mongrels (n = 2), Norfolk Terriers (n = 1), Miniature Dachshunds (n = 1), and Maltese (n = 2); mean age was 9.3 ± 6.5 months and mean bodyweight was 3.3 ± 0.8 kg. VIP concentration was 17.75 ± 13.88 pg/ml in the saphenous vein and 29.7 ± 20.29 pg/ml in the portal vein, with no significant difference between the two sites. The authors report this suggests no association between VIP and PSS in the absence of portal hypertension.
Abstract
The congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS) is a common vascular anomaly in dogs. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is produced in various organs (including the small intestine, large intestine, and pancreas), leading to abdominal vasodilation, increased blood flow, increased pancreatic blood flow, and promotion of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretions. However, there have been no reports on the concentration of VIP in the portal and peripheral veins in canine PSS. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether dogs with PSS have a different VIP concentration in their portal system in general. Six dogs with an extrahepatic portosplenic shunt were included in the study. Blood samples were taken from the saphenous and portal veins during PSS ligation surgery with an amerid constrictor, to evaluate and compare the VIP concentration in both samples. VIP was measured using a commercial canine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The breeds included Mongrels (n = 2), Norfolk Terriers (n = 1), Miniature Dachshunds (n = 1), and Maltese (n = 2), and their ages were 9.3 ± 6.5 months; the bodyweight was 3.3 ± 0.8 kg. The concentration of VIP in the saphenous vein was 17.75 ± 13.88 pg/ml; on the contrary, the concentration of VIP in the portal vein was 29.7 ± 20.29 pg/ml. There was no significant difference in the VIP concentration between veins. There was no difference in the VIP concentration between the portal and saphenous veins, suggesting a non-association between VIP and the PSS, in the absence of portal hypertension.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.