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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can J Vet Res / Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation tests in healthy foa...
Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2009; 73(1); 65-72;

Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation tests in healthy foals from birth to 12 weeks of age.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate total baseline plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations, and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations in foals from birth to 12 wk of age. Plasma (baseline) cortisol and ACTH concentrations were measured in 13 healthy foals at birth and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 84 d of age. Each foal received cosyntropin (0.1 microg/kg) intravenously. Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured before (baseline), and 30, and 60 min after cosyntropin administration at birth and at 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 84 d of age. Compared with baseline, cortisol concentration increased significantly 30 min after administration of cosyntropin on all days. Cortisol concentration was highest at birth, measured at 30 and 60 min after cosyntropin administration, compared with all other days. With the exception of birth measurements, cortisol concentration was significantly higher on day 84, measured at 30 and 60 min after cosyntropin administration, when compared with all other days. Baseline plasma ACTH was lowest at birth when compared with concentrations on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 42, 56, and 84. Administration of 0.1 microg/kg of cosyntropin, IV, reliably induces cortisol secretion in healthy foals. Differences in the magnitude of response to cosyntropin are observed depending on the age of the foal. These data should serve as a reference for the ACTH stimulation test in foals and should be useful in subsequent studies to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy and critically ill foals. L’objectif de la présente étude était d’étudier les concentrations du niveau de base du cortisol plasmatique total, de l’hormone adrénocorticotropique (ACTH) et les concentrations de cortisol suite à une stimulation par l’ACTH chez des poulains de la naissance jusqu’à l’âge de 12 sem. Les concentrations de base du cortisol plasmatique et de l’ACTH ont été mesurées chez 13 poulains en santé à la naissance et à 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56 et 84 jours d’âge. Les concentrations de cortisol plasmatique ont été mesurées avant (niveau de base), 30 et 60 min après administration de cosyntropine à tous les jours. En comparaison avec le niveau de base, les concentrations de cortisol augmentèrent significativement 30 min après l’administration de cosyntropine à tous les jours. La concentration de cortisol était à son maximum le jour de la naissance, 30 et 60 min après administration de cosyntropine, comparativement à tous les autres jours. À l’exception des mesures prises à la naissance, la concentration de cortisol était supérieure d’une manière significative au jour 84, 30 et 60 min après administration de cosyntropine, lorsque comparée aux autres journées. La valeur de base de l’ACTH plasmatique était à son plus bas au moment de la naissance lorsque comparée aux niveaux aux jours 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 42, 56, et 84. L’administration de 0,1 μg/kg de cosyntropine par voie intraveineuse, a induit d’une manière fiable la sécrétion de cortisol chez des poulains en santé. Les différences dans l’ampleur de la réponse à la cosyntropine sont observées en fonction de l’âge du poulain. Ces données devraient servir de référence pour les tests de stimulation à l’ACTH chez les poulains et devraient être utiles dans les études subséquentes visant à évaluer l’axe hypothalamus-pitutaire- surrénale chez des poulains en santé et ceux sévèrement malades. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)
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Publication Date: 2009-04-02 PubMed ID: 19337398PubMed Central: PMC2613599
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study seeks to investigate the baseline and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated cortisol concentrations in foals from birth to 12 weeks of age. The findings suggest that cortisol responses differ at various stages in a foal’s life, with notably high levels at birth and on the 84th day, providing a reference for future studies on hormone regulation in both healthy and critically ill foals.

Research Purpose and Methods

  • The key objective of this study was to understand the concentration of baseline plasma cortisol and ACTH in healthy foals from birth to 12 weeks.
  • The study used 13 healthy foals and studied baseline and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations within these foals at different stages, specifically at birth and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 84 days of age.
  • The researchers administered cosyntropin, a hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to make cortisol, intravenously (0.1 micrograms/kg), and measured plasma cortisol concentrations before, 30 minutes after, and 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration at different stages.

Key Findings

  • The study found that the cortisol concentration increased significantly 30 minutes after the administration of cosyntropin, compared to the baseline.
  • The highest cortisol concentrations were found at birth and 30 and 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration and on the 84th day, with higher concentrations compared to other days.
  • In contrast, baseline plasma ACTH was lowest at birth when compared with concentrations on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 42, 56, and 84.
  • The researchers found that the administration of cosyntropin reliably induces cortisol secretion in foals.

Implications of the Study

  • The research highlights that the impact of cosyntropin on cortisol secretion varies with the foal’s age.
  • These data provide a reference for ACTH stimulation tests in foals, which can be a crucial tool for gauging the performance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in both healthy and critically ill foals.
  • Understanding foals’ hormone regulation at different life stages can help inform care and interventions for both healthy and sick foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Wong DM, Vo DT, Alcott CJ, Stewart AJ, Peterson AD, Sponseller BA, Hsu WH. (2009). Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation tests in healthy foals from birth to 12 weeks of age. Can J Vet Res, 73(1), 65-72.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 73
Issue: 1
Pages: 65-72

Researcher Affiliations

Wong, David M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. dwong@iastate.edu
Vo, Dai Tan
    Alcott, Cody J
      Stewart, Allison J
        Peterson, Anna D
          Sponseller, Brett A
            Hsu, Walter H

              MeSH Terms

              • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
              • Aging / drug effects
              • Aging / physiology
              • Animals
              • Animals, Newborn
              • Cosyntropin / administration & dosage
              • Cosyntropin / pharmacology
              • Female
              • Horses
              • Housing, Animal
              • Hydrocortisone / blood
              • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
              • Injections, Intravenous
              • Male
              • Reference Values

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              Citations

              This article has been cited 4 times.
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              4. Hart KA, Barton MH. Adrenocortical insufficiency in horses and foals.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011 Apr;27(1):19-34.
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