| dc.description.abstract | Feline obesity is a widespread condition affecting millions of domestic cats, often resulting in insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Current treatment options for feline obesity are limited and often difficult to maintain long-term. Peripheral focused ultrasound (pFUS) neuromodulation is an emerging, noninvasive technique with the potential to enhance insulin sensitivity and support weight loss by targeting peripheral sensory nerves involved in metabolic regulation. While pFUS has been studied in rodents, swine, and humans, its therapeutic potential in domestic cats has not been explored. Recent research by General Electric (GE) suggests that pFUS stimulation of liver sensory neurons can prevent or
even reverse obesity and T2DM in several species. This thesis investigates the potential of peripheral focused ultrasound neuromodulation (pFUS) as a non-drug therapy for improving insulin sensitivity and promoting weight loss in domestic cats. The literature review outlines the history of neuromodulation, the development of peripheral focused ultrasound techniques, introduces the potential of pFUS as a noninvasive treatment option, and points out the major gaps in research, especially in veterinary medicine. Chapter one presents a preliminary safety study of pFUS in healthy male and female domestic cats. Seven purpose-bred, intact cats (three males and four females, aged four through eight years) were treated with a one-hour pFUS session targeting two sites: the porta hepatis and superior mesenteric plexus. There were no adverse events and primary outcomes measures,
including biomarkers of liver damage, renal function, and endocrine disease, remained within reference intervals before and after treatment. Additionally, there were minimal significant changes in health parameters associated with pFUS treatment, suggesting that single-dose, multi-site ultrasound neuromodulation is safe. Future studies using this approach are recommended to
determine if pFUS treatment improves blood glucose levels in obese cats. Chapter two explores the effects of ultrasound neuromodulation in overweight and obese cats to assess its potential as a therapeutic option in veterinary medicine. Fourteen obese, neutered or spayed cats (seven males and seven females, aged two through nine years) received the same one-hour pFUS session targeting the porta hepatis and superior mesenteric plexus. As observed in the safety study, there were no adverse effects from pFUS treatment, and all health parameters were within normal reference intervals before and after treatment. In the 10 cats that met the inclusion criteria, there was a significant decrease in plasma glucose with a trend towards decreased interstitial
glucose and triglycerides. These results indicate that single-dose, multi-site ultrasound neuromodulation is safe in obese and overweight cats. pFUS has the potential to improve metabolic parameters in obese cats and may represent a promising treatment for feline obesity. In this study, we only observed minimal effects on metabolic parameters in the obese cats, likely because pre-treatment values indicated that only minimal changes were associated with increased body weight. Further studies are needed in more metabolically challenged cats, such as overt and poorly regulated diabetic cats, to better understand the potential therapeutic benefits of pFUS in feline insulin resistance and metabolic disease. Overall, this thesis provides a foundation for evaluating the potential of pFUS as a non-drug therapy in veterinary medicine, particularly for feline obesity. The findings suggest that there are distinct physiological responses between pFUS treatment in healthy and obese cats and
highlights the safety and potential metabolic benefits of ultrasound neuromodulation. Further studies with larger sample sizes and repeated treatments are needed to determine whether pFUS can be developed into a reliable and effective therapy for obesity and metabolic disease in cats. | en_US |
