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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2023; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16808

Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals.

Abstract: Bacterial sepsis is the leading cause of death in foals and is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) dysfunction. HPAA function can be evaluated by an arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test. Objective: Administration of AVP will stimulate a dose-dependent rise in systemic adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in neonatal foals. There will be no response seen in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and baseline AVP will be within reference interval. Methods: Twelve neonatal foals, <72 hours old. Methods: HPAA function was assessed in foals utilizing 3 doses of AVP (2.5, 5, and 7.5 IU), administered between 24 and 48 hours of age in this randomized cross-over study. Cortisol, ACTH, CRH and AVP were measured at 0 (baseline), 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after AVP administration with immunoassays. The fold increase in cortisol and ACTH was calculated at 15 and 30 minutes compared to baseline. Results: All doses of AVP resulted in a significant increase in cortisol concentration over time, and a dose-dependent increase in ACTH concentration over time. ACTH and cortisol were significantly increased at 15 and 30 minutes, respectively after all 3 doses of AVP compared to baseline (P < .01). There was no change in endogenous CRH after stimulation with AVP. Conclusions: Administration of AVP is safe and results in a significant rise in ACTH and cortisol in neonatal foals. A stimulation test with AVP (5 IU) can be considered for HPAA assessment in septic foals.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2023-07-11 PubMed ID: 37432047DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16808Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article discusses how hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) function in neonatal foals was evaluated using an arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test. The conclusions indicate that AVP administration led to a significant increase in adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, suggesting that AVP can be used to assess HPAA function in septic foals.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The research hypothesized that administering AVP would elicit a dose-dependent increase in systemic ACTH and cortisol, but not corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), in newborn foals.
  • Twelve foals less than 72 hours old were used for the study. AVP was administered in three doses (2.5, 5, and 7.5 IU), between 24 and 48 hours of age, in a randomized cross-over manner.
  • The researchers measured cortisol, ACTH, CRH, and AVP concentrational levels at baseline, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administering AVP using immunoassays.
  • The fold increase in cortisol and ACTH at 15 and 30 minutes respectively compared to baseline levels was calculated.

Results of the Study

  • All three doses of AVP triggered a significant rise in cortisol concentration over time, as well as in ACTH concentration, which was dose-dependent.
  • ACTH and cortisol noticeably surged at 15 and 30 minutes, respectively, after all administered doses of AVP in comparison to baseline figures. This increase was statistically significant (P < .01).
  • Contrarily, there was no alteration in native CRH levels post AVP stimulation.

Conclusions from the Research

  • The administration of AVP was found to be safe and resulted in a significant rise in ACTH and cortisol in neonatal foals.
  • The study concluded that an AVP stimulation test (particularly with 5 IU AVP) can be effectively used for assessing HPAA function in septic foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Elder E, Wong D, Johnson K, Robertson H, Marner M, Dembek K. (2023). Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16808

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Elder, Erin
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Wong, David
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
Johnson, Katheryn
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
Robertson, Hannah
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Marner, Meghan
  • Adobe Veterinary Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Dembek, Katarzyna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Grant Funding

  • NCSU CVM Intramural Seed Grant

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