EXPERIMENTAL INDUCTION OF HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS IN CATS

The effect of long-term voluntary fasting on hematologic variables, bi ochemical profiles, and liver histologic findings was assessed in 15 o bese cats (> 40% overweight). Clinical signs and laboratory results co nsistent with hepatic lipidosis were observed in 12 of 15 cats after 5 to 7 weeks of fasting, and were associated with 30 to 35% reduction o f initial body weight. Histologic examination of successive liver biop sy specimens revealed that obesity was not associated with liver paren chymal lipid accumulation, but that fasting resulted in lipidosis in a ll 15 cats. The long-term fast was associated with an early (after 2 t o 4 weeks of fasting) and significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum ur ea, glucose, and albumin concentrations, and RBC mass. Fasting for 5 t o 7 weeks was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in hep atic-associated enzyme activities and in total and direct serum biliru bin concentrations. Significant (P < 0.05) changes in serum alkaline p hosphatase developed as early as 3 weeks before the onset of hyperbili rubinemia. Except for development of hepatic lipidosis, cats appeared to tolerate the fast without other adverse effect. This study confirme d that longterm fasting may induce clinical hepatic lipidosis in obese cats. Easting appears to induce a syndrome of hepatic lipidosis that is indistinguishable from feline idiopathic hepatic lipidosis and may be an appropriate model to study the pathophysiologic features and tre atment of hepatic lipidosis.