RESUMEN
The African hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris, is a spiny mammal that has become popular as an exotic pet in many countries. To elucidate the ability of hedgehogs to metabolize xenobiotics, the animals were exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, pyrene. The in vivo exposure study indicated that pyrene was biotransformed to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, such as pyrene-1-glucuronide, pyrene-1-sulfate, and pyrenediol-sulfate, and excreted in the urine. Pyrene-1-glucuronide was the main metabolite, and limited sulfate conjugate excretion was observed. The main products excreted in feces were 1-hydroxypyrene and pyrene. Based on the results of the in vivo exposure study, in vitro enzymatic kinetic experiments were performed using various substrates and compared to rats and pigs. The enzyme efficiencies of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity and warfarin 4'-, 6-, and 8-hydroxylation activity in hedgehogs were lower than those of rats. Furthermore, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity in hedgehogs also had a lower Km value than that in pigs. Interestingly, the enzyme efficiencies of sulfation activity toward 1-hydroxypyrene and ß-estradiol in hedgehogs were significantly lower than those in pigs. These observations suggested that phenol and estrogen sulfotransferases may have limited roles in xenobiotic metabolism in hedgehogs.
Asunto(s)
Erizos/metabolismo , Hígado/enzimología , Fase II de la Desintoxicación Metabólica , Fase I de la Desintoxicación Metabólica , Pirenos/metabolismo , Animales , Heces/química , Glucurónidos/metabolismo , Erizos/orina , Cinética , Masculino , Pirenos/toxicidad , Pirenos/orina , Ratas , Eliminación Renal , Especificidad de la Especie , Especificidad por Sustrato , Sulfatos/metabolismo , Sus scrofaRESUMEN
A 6-mo-old, male African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) presented with a history of pink urine and demonstrating pink-colored teeth and mild hepatomegaly on examination. Urinalysis revealed no physical, chemical, or cellular abnormalities other than a pink color and fluorescence under ultraviolet light (UV). Also under UV, intense fluorescence of teeth, feet, and spines was noted. Porphyria was suspected. Spectrophotometric evaluation of urine showed extremely elevated levels of copro- and uroporphyrins. Analysis of the urine by thin-layer chromatography showed an abnormal pattern of excreted porphyrin intermediates. Urine high-performance thin-layer chromatography showed that excreted porphyrins were 90-95% of the type-I isomeric form, suggestive of congenital erythropoietic porphyria.
Asunto(s)
Erizos , Porfiria Eritropoyética/veterinaria , Animales , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión/veterinaria , Coproporfirinas/metabolismo , Coproporfirinas/orina , Erizos/orina , Masculino , Porfiria Eritropoyética/diagnóstico , Porfiria Eritropoyética/orina , Porfirinas/metabolismo , Porfirinas/orinaRESUMEN
The clinical pathology of some of the less common and newly emerging small mammal species is detailed in this article. The species covered here include the chinchilla, prairie dog, African hedgehog, and sugar glider. Venipuncture sites and sampling techniques are discussed in general and for each species. Detailed information on the hematology and serum biochemistry values of these animals is presented in numerous tables. Specific information is also provided for urinalysis, fecal analysis, dermatologic sampling, and cytology.