Affiliation:
1. School of Biology & Environmental Science, Science Faculty Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane Queensland Australia
2. Equine Studies Group Waltham Petcare Science Institute Leicestershire UK
3. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH Ingelheim am Rhein Germany
4. The Royal Veterinary College North Mymms UK
5. Liphook Equine Hospital Liphook UK
6. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundHigh concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are used as an indicator of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), but other factors that may influence ACTH need to be understood, if diagnostic reference ranges for ACTH are to be used with confidence. Insulin dysregulation (ID) could be one such factor, as insulin affects pituitary hormones in other species.ObjectivesTo test the hypothesis that a relationship exists between high insulin and high ACTH in aged (>15‐year‐old) animals with no clinical signs of PPID.Study designA cohort study.MethodsThirteen horses and eleven ponies (17–25 years‐old; mares and geldings) were clinically examined for signs of PPID in the spring (November 2020) and autumn (April 2021). On the same day, blood samples were taken before and 2 h after an oral glucose test (OGT). Concentrations of insulin, glucose, ACTH and cortisol were measured.ResultsThere was no association between ACTH and cortisol. However, there was a positive linear correlation between ACTH and post‐OGT (insulin in the autumn (r = 0.427, p = 0.04). Two horses and six ponies had ACTH above the cut‐off value for PPID diagnosis, and of these eight animals, six also had insulin concentrations above the cut‐off value for ID.Main limitationsThe cohort was small and thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests were not performed.ConclusionsIn autumn, high ACTH was associated with ID, when no clinical signs of PPID were present. Because ACTH is used in PPID diagnosis, further work is required to understand this interaction.
Funder
Australian Research Council
Boehringer Ingelheim
Mars Petcare
Queensland University of Technology
University of Melbourne
Cited by
1 articles.
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