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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(2); 902-908; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15747

Blood glucose and insulin concentrations after alpha-2-agonists administration in horses with and without insulin dysregulation.

Abstract: In metabolically stable horses, alpha-2-agonists suppress insulin secretion with transient hyperglycemia and rebound hyperinsulinemia. In horses with insulin dysregulation (ID), the effect of alpha-2-agonists has not been investigated; however, both the alpha-2-agonist-induced suppression of insulin secretion and rebound hyperinsulinemia could have clinical relevance. Objective: In horses with ID, alpha-2-agonists will alter insulin and glucose dynamics. Methods: Seven horses with ID and 7 control horses. Methods: In this randomized crossover study, xylazine hydrochloride (1.1 mg/kg) or detomidine hydrochloride (30 μg/kg) were administered IV, and blood was collected for glucose and insulin concentrations at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 300 minutes after administration. Horses received each drug in a random order with a 24-hour washout period between drugs. Percent change in glucose and insulin concentrations was compared between groups, drugs, and over time with P < .05 considered significant. Results: A significant time-dependent effect of both alpha-2-agonists on glucose and insulin concentrations in control and ID horses was identified (P = .01 for all comparisons). There was no significant effect of sedative selection and endocrine status on blood glucose concentration in either group; however, in ID horses, xylazine administration resulted in severe rebound hyperinsulinemia whereas detomidine administration did not (P = .02). Conclusions: Alpha-2-agonists have a significant effect on glucose and insulin concentrations in horses. In ID horses, detomidine could minimize hyperinsulinemia when compared to xylazine.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-26 PubMed ID: 32100334PubMed Central: PMC7096659DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15747Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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 paper studies the effect of alpha-2-agonists on insulin and glucose levels in horses, especially those with insulin dysregulation. It concludes that while both alpha-2-agonists cause significant alterations in glucose and insulin concentrations, detomidine seems to cause less severe rebound hyperinsulinemia compared to xylazine in horses with insulin disorders.

Study Objective and Methods

  • The objective of the study was to determine the impact of alpha-2-agonists—chemicals that suppress insulin secretion—on blood insulin and glucose dynamics in horses with insulin dysregulation. Insulin dysregulation is when a horse’s body does not respond to insulin as it should, a condition which can lead to chronic endocrine disorders.
  • The research was a randomized crossover study, involving 14 horses—7 with insulin dysregulation and 7 without it. Two different drugs, xylazine hydrochloride and detomidine hydrochloride, both alpha-2 agonists, were administered to the horses.
  • After administering the drugs, blood samples were taken at various intervals, up to 300 minutes post administration. The insulin and glucose concentrations in each sample were measured.
  • The variations in insulin and glucose levels between the two groups of horses, and the two drugs, were compared. A statistical threshold (P) of less than .05 was used to identify significant changes. A lower P-value means the result has a higher chance of being statistically significant.

Study Results

  • The study found a significant time-dependent impact of both alpha-2-agonists on glucose and insulin concentrations, regardless of whether the horses had insulin dysregulation (P = .01 for all comparisons).
  • The type of sedative used and the endocrine status of the horses did not significantly impact the blood glucose concentrations in either group. However, a significant difference was observed in the effects of xylazine and detomidine on horses with insulin dysregulation.
  • In horses with insulin dysregulation, xylazine resulted in severe rebound hyperinsulinemia or a sharp spike in insulin following its initial suppression. In comparison, detomidine did not cause severe rebound hyperinsulinemia.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that alpha-2-agonists significantly affect glucose and insulin concentrations in horses. In horses with insulin dysregulation, the use of detomidine can potentially reduce the risk of severe rebound hyperinsulinemia when compared to xylazine.
  • These findings could have clinical implications, particularly for the treatment and management of horses with insulin-related disorders. Appropriate use of alpha-2-agonists could help in controlling insulin spikes and maintaining healthy glucose levels in these animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Kritchevsky JE, Muir GS, Leschke DHZ, Hodgson JK, Hess EK, Bertin FR. (2020). Blood glucose and insulin concentrations after alpha-2-agonists administration in horses with and without insulin dysregulation. J Vet Intern Med, 34(2), 902-908. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15747

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 2
Pages: 902-908

Researcher Affiliations

Kritchevsky, Janice E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Muir, Genevieve S
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Leschke, Dakota H Z
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Hodgson, Jack K
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Hess, Emily K
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Bertin, Francois-Rene
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Conscious Sedation / veterinary
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Xylazine / pharmacology

Grant Funding

  • John & Mary Kibble Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Timko KJ, Hostnik LD, Watts MR, Chen C, Bercz A, Toribio RE, Belknap JK, Burns TA. Diagnostic evaluation of insulin and glucose dynamics in light-breed horses receiving dexamethasone. Can Vet J 2022 Jun;63(6):617-626.
    pubmed: 35656529
  2. Ryan A, Gurney M, Steinbacher R. Suspected vagal reflex and hyperkalaemia inducing asystole in an anaesthetised horse. Equine Vet J 2022 Sep;54(5):927-933.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13535pubmed: 34738246google scholar: lookup
  3. Hicks GR, Fraser NS, Bertin FR. Changes Associated with the Peri-Ovulatory Period, Age and Pregnancy in ACTH, Cortisol, Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Mares. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 20;11(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030891pubmed: 33804751google scholar: lookup
  4. Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Rings LM, Swink JM, Burns TA, Toribio RE. Glucagon, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol in response to carbohydrates and fasting in healthy neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jan;35(1):550-559.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16024pubmed: 33415818google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1186/s12917-026-05304-2pubmed: 41612301google scholar: lookup
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