Validation of two ELISA assays for total ghrelin measurement in dogs

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition Vol. 96; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Tvarijonaviciute, A, Martínez‐Subiela, S, Ceron, J. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2012; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Beagle; Blood Glucose; correlation; dog; Dogs; Dogs - blood; ELISA; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Female; ghrelin; Ghrelin - blood; Glucose; Humans; linear models; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity; validation
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01112.x

The aim of this study was to validate two commercially available ELISA assays for total ghrelin measurement in dogs: one canine‐specific and one originally designed for measuring human ghrelin. The two assays showed intra‐assay coefficient of variations (CVs) lower than 10%, while the inter‐assay CVs exceeded the 15% limit. Sample dilutions resulted in linear regression equations with correlation coefficients close to 1. In order to compare methods and verify ability of the ghrelin assays to differentiate between low and high levels, ghrelin concentrations were measured in plasma samples obtained before and at different times after glucose administration in five Beagle dogs. A statistically significant changes in ghrelin after glucose administration was recorded only with assay B. In conclusion, the human ELISA validated in this study showed a good intra‐assay precision, accuracy, and when applied to the glucose injection study, was better in distinguishing high and low canine ghrelin levels than the canine ELISA assay.