Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that plays a pivotal role in regulating glucose metabolism in horses. It facilitates the uptake of glucose by cells, thus maintaining blood sugar levels within a normal range. Insulin's function is integral to energy balance and metabolic processes in equines. Disruptions in insulin regulation can lead to metabolic disorders such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), characterized by insulin resistance and associated with obesity and laminitis. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological role, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical implications of insulin in equine health and disease management.
Bourebaba L, Panek M, Piedra LCC, Bourebaba N.Fetuin-A (FetA) is a multifactorial glycoprotein primarily synthesized by the liver with additional expression in adipose tissue, the abundance of which is tightly regulated by the FBXW7 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Recently, FetA has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and associated metabolic failures in humans through its potent and selective inhibition of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, however, no studies have yet directly investigated its role in the development and progression of equine obesity. In this investigation, FetA levels were measured in serum, liver, a...
Anger-Håål C, Fjordbakk CT, Ekstrand C, Skedsmo FS, Rørtveit R.Insulin dysregulation is a hallmark of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), and in recent years, pharmacological treatment with sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown promise in reducing the risk of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis in horses diagnosed with EMS. In humans and laboratory animals, this transporter protein is responsible for the majority of renal tubular glucose reabsorption, however, the presence of this and the related sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) have not yet been studied in equine kidneys. Additionally, studies in humans and la...
Barnabé A, Loup B, Cawley A, Delcourt V, Garcia P, Popot MA, Keledjian J, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Despite the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) regulation associated with heavy sanctions, the abuse of prohibited substances must be identified and deterred throughout horses' athletic careers, such as the administration of recombinant growth hormone (rGH). GH is naturally produced in mammal organisms to stimulate growth. Thus, rGH administration can enhance the performance of horses by expanding some physical abilities. As measuring endogenous GH levels is complex, an indirect strategy is to monitor GH-associated biomarkers in plasma as insulin-like growth factor 1 (I...
Steel R, Timms M, Bamford N, Spence R, Sillence M.Previous liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods for the detection of insulin and other similar peptide hormones in equine plasma relied on the use of antibody affinity extraction. As a result, these methods were not suitable for routine high-throughput analysis. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method incorporating size exclusion as well as reversed-phase interactions allows the selective extraction of peptide hormones such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and their synthetic analogues from equine plasma with approximately 80% extraction efficiencies. This extracti...
Whitfield-Cargile C, Coleman M, Hart K, Gomes D, Berghaus L, Duberstein KJ, Ellis K, Tinkle A, Shirzad R.Insulin dysregulation (ID) is common and diminishes welfare of horses. Current management relies on diet and exercise, with variable responses and limited medical options. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) might provide adjunctive therapy. Objective: To evaluate the tolerance and effects of Reducose®, a Morus alba leaf extract standardized to 5% 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), in healthy horses and horses at risk of ID. We hypothesized DNJ would be well-tolerated and reduce insulin responses to oral sugar tests (OSTs). Methods: Twenty-seven horses: 6 healthy (Phase I), 5 at risk for ID (Phase II)...
Jantunen N, Raekallio M, Karikoski N.The peripheral alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan attenuated the side effects of alpha2-adrenergic sedatives in experimental studies in horses. This clinical study investigated the effects of vatinoxan in horses sedated for gastroscopy with detomidine and butorphanol. Client-owned horses were randomly allocated to receive one of the following two intravenous treatments: detomidine hydrochloride (HCl) (12μg/kg) + butorphanol tartrate (12μg/kg) (DB; n=11) or DB + vatinoxan HCl (200μg/kg) (DBV; n=11). Borborygmi score and heart rate were recorded by auscultation. Sedation level was evalu...
