Baseline plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations and response to low-dose ACTH stimulation testing in ill foals.
Abstract: To evaluate baseline plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations and responses to low-dose ACTH stimulation testing in ill foals. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 58 ill foals. Methods: Baseline cortisol and ACTH concentrations and cortisol concentrations after administration of a low dose of cosyntropin were determined within 6 hours after admission. Foals were assigned to 4 groups on the basis of age (<or=24 hours vs 1 to 56 days) and presence of septicemia (yes vs no). Values were compared among groups and with values previously reported for healthy foals. Results: Plasma cortisol concentrations 30 and 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration in foals<or=24 hours old were significantly higher than corresponding cortisol concentrations in older foals. In all 4 groups, plasma cortisol concentration 30 minutes after cosyntropin administration was significantly higher than baseline cortisol concentration or concentration 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration. No differences in baseline cortisol or ACTH concentration or in the ACTH-to-cortisol ratio were detected between groups or when ill foals were compared with healthy foals. A small number of ill foals had low baseline cortisol and ACTH concentrations or low responses to cosyntropin administration, compared with healthy foals. Conclusions: Results indicated that most ill foals in the present study population had adequate responses to cosyntropin administration. However, a small subset of ill foals appeared to have dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Publication Date: 2009-01-06 PubMed ID: 19119977DOI: 10.2460/javma.234.1.126Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigated the levels of cortisol and ACTH hormones in ill foals and how they respond to a stimulation test with a low dose of the hormone cosyntropin. The study concluded that most of the sick foals respond well to cosyntropin, but a small group showed dysfunction in their hormone regulation mechanisms.
Methods
- The study was conducted cross-sectionally and consisted of 58 ill foals.
- Within six hours of admission, blood was drawn from the foals to measure the baseline cortisol and ACTH concentrations, and also to check their reaction after the administration of a low dose of cosyntropin.
- The foals were divided into four groups based on their age (less than or equal to 24 hours, verses 1 to 56 days) and whether they had septicemia (yes or no).
- The observed values were compared among the four groups and with values previously recorded for healthy foals.
Findings
- Plasma cortisol concentrations 30 and 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration in foals less than or equal to 24 hours old were significantly higher than corresponding cortisol concentrations in older foals.
- In all four groups, plasma cortisol concentration 30 minutes after cosyntropin administration was significantly higher than baseline cortisol concentration or concentration 60 minutes after cosyntropin administration.
- There was no observable difference in baseline cortisol or ACTH concentration or in the ACTH-to-cortisol ratio between different groups or when ill foals were compared with healthy foals.
- A small number of ill foals had low baseline cortisol and ACTH concentrations or low responses to cosyntropin administration, when compared with healthy foals.
Conclusions
- The results indicated that the majority of the ill foals in the present study population had normal responses to cosyntropin administration. Their bodies were able to produce cortisol – an essential hormone for dealing with stress and regulating metabolism.
- However, a small subset of ill foals demonstrated a dysfunction in their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis – a complex set of interactions among three glands that control reactions to stress and regulate various body processes, including digestion, the immune system, emotions and mood, and energy storage and usage.
Cite This Article
APA
Wong DM, Vo DT, Alcott CJ, Peterson AD, Sponseller BA, Hsu WH.
(2009).
Baseline plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations and response to low-dose ACTH stimulation testing in ill foals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 234(1), 126-132.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.234.1.126 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenal Cortex / physiology
- Adrenal Cortex Function Tests / methods
- Adrenal Cortex Function Tests / veterinary
- Adrenal Insufficiency / diagnosis
- Adrenal Insufficiency / veterinary
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Area Under Curve
- Cosyntropin / pharmacokinetics
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Elder E, Wong D, Johnson K, Robertson H, Marner M, Dembek K. Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Sep-Oct;37(5):1881-1888.
- Johnson K, Peterson J, Kopper J, Dembek K. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to ovine corticotropin-releasing-hormone stimulation tests in healthy and hospitalized foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):292-301.
- Stewart AJ, Hackett E, Bertin FR, Towns TJ. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2257-2266.
- Dembek KA, Johnson LM, Timko KJ, Minuto JS, Hart KA, Barr BS, Toribio RE. Multiple adrenocortical steroid response to administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone to hospitalized foals. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jul;33(4):1766-1774.
- Hoffman CJ, McKenzie HC 3rd, Furr MO, Desrochers A. Glucocorticoid receptor density and binding affinity in healthy horses and horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):626-35.
- Osterbur K, Mann FA, Kuroki K, DeClue A. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in humans and animals. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):1141-51.
- 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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