Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.
Abstract: Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a common endocrinopathy, frequently diagnosed via plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations. Seasonal variation in plasma ACTH concentrations has been described in normal horses prompting caution in diagnosing PPID at certain times of the year. The aims of this study were to determine appropriate reference intervals for equine plasma ACTH throughout the year; and to examine the circannual variation of plasma ACTH concentrations in PPID cases. Objective: Plasma ACTH can be used as a test for PPID throughout the year with the use of appropriate reference intervals. Methods: Data for reference interval calculations were obtained from samples collected from inpatients of Liphook Equine Hospital (non-PPID group, n=156). Data from PPID cases (n=941) were obtained from samples submitted to the Liphook Equine Hospital Laboratory from horses with a clinical suspicion of PPID found to have plasma ACTH concentrations greater than our upper reference interval for that time of year. Results: Upper limits for reference interval of plasma ACTH were 29 pg/ml between November and July and 47 pg/ml between August and October. Circannual variation in plasma ACTH occurred in both non-PPID and PPID horses with the highest ACTH concentrations found between August and October in both groups (P<0.0001). The greatest difference between the 2 populations also occurred between August and October. Conclusions: Plasma ACTH can be used for the diagnosis and monitoring of PPID throughout the year with the use of appropriate reference intervals. These findings demonstrate an increase in pituitary gland secretory activity during the late summer and autumn in both normal and PPID cases.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-08-18 PubMed ID: 21848531DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00444.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Endocrine System
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Hormones
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Observational Study
- Physiology
- Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction
- Plasma
- Seasonal Variation
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article focuses on the study of Plasma Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ACTH levels in normal horses and ponies and those diagnosed with a common endocrinopathy, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). The objective was to establish reference intervals for equine plasma ACTH throughout the year and observe its circannual variation in PPID cases. The study found that ACTH can be used as a diagnostic tool for PPID all year round with varying reference intervals, and a noted increase in pituitary gland secretory activity was observed during late summer and autumn in both normal and PPID cases.
Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the usability of plasma ACTH as a testing method for PPID throughout the year and determine the yearly reference intervals for this hormone in horses.
- The research method involved collecting and analyzing samples from inpatients at Liphook Equine Hospital. This involved a non-PPID group consisting of 156 cases and 941 cases that had a clinical suspicion of PPID.
Results of the Study
- The results derived showed the upper limits for the plasma ACTH reference interval was 29 pg/ml between November and July and 47 pg/ml between August and October. Thus, revealing a yearly cyclical variation in ACTH levels.
- The highest ACTH concentrations were found between August and October in both non-PPID and PPID groups showing a significant increase in pituitary gland secretory activity during the late summer and autumn.
- The biggest difference between the two populations, non-PPID and PPID, was also observed between August and October.
Conclusions Drawn
- The conclusions made from this research show that plasma ACTH can be effectively used for the diagnosis and monitoring of PPID all year round when appropriate reference intervals are applied.
- The findings also showcase an increased activity of the pituitary gland in both normal horses and those with PPID during the late summer and autumn.
Cite This Article
APA
Copas VE, Durham AE.
(2011).
Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.
Equine Vet J, 44(4), 440-443.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00444.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Liphook Equine Hospital, Hampshire, UK. v.copas@theleh.co.uk
MeSH Terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horses
- Male
- Pituitary Diseases / blood
- Pituitary Diseases / metabolism
- Pituitary Diseases / veterinary
- Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / metabolism
- Seasons
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 22 times.- Clark BL, Bamford NJ, Stewart AJ, McCue ME, Rendahl A, Bailey SR, Bertin FR, Norton EM. Evaluation of an HMGA2 variant contribution to height and basal insulin concentrations in ponies.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1186-1192.
- de Laat MA, Warnken T, Delarocque J, Reiche DB, Grob AJ, Feige K, Carslake HB, Durham AE, Sillence MN, Thane KE, Frank N, Brojer J, Lindase S, Sonntag J. Carbohydrate pellets to assess insulin dysregulation in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):302-314.
- Drozdzewska K, Gehlen H. Markers for internal neoplasia in the horse.. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):132-143.
- Kirkwood NC, Hughes KJ, Stewart AJ. Prospective Case Series of Clinical Signs and Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) Concentrations in Seven Horses Transitioning to Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID).. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 17;9(10).
- Kirkwood NC, Hughes KJ, Stewart AJ. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) in Horses.. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 10;9(10).
- Thane K, Uricchio C, Frank N. Effect of early or late blood sampling on thyrotropin releasing hormone stimulation test results in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):770-777.
- Kam YN, McKenzie K, Coyle M, Bertin FR. Repeatability of a thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test for diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in mature horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Nov;35(6):2885-2890.
- Dunkel B, Knowles EJ, Chang YM, Menzies-Gow NJ. Influence of endocrine disease on l-lactate concentrations in blood of ponies.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 May;35(3):1582-1588.
- Horn R, Stewart AJ, Jackson KV, Dryburgh EL, Medina-Torres CE, Bertin FR. Clinical implications of using adrenocorticotropic hormone diagnostic cutoffs or reference intervals to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in mature horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jan;35(1):560-570.
- Gehlen H, Schwarz B, Bartmann C, Gernhardt J, Stöckle SD. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction and Metabolic Syndrome in Donkeys.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 8;10(12).
- Hu K, Stewart AJ, Yuen KY, Hinrichsen S, Dryburgh EL, Bertin FR. The effect of freeze-thaw cycles on determination of immunoreactive plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 May;34(3):1350-1356.
- Hodge E, Kowalski A, Torcivia C, Lindborg S, Stefanovski D, Hart K, Frank N, van Eps A. Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation testing on the oral sugar test in horses when performed as a combined protocol.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2272-2279.
- de Laat MA, Reiche DB, Sillence MN, McGree JM. Incidence and risk factors for recurrence of endocrinopathic laminitis in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1473-1482.
- Reynolds A, Keen JA, Fordham T, Morgan RA. Adipose tissue dysfunction in obese horses with equine metabolic syndrome.. Equine Vet J 2019 Nov;51(6):760-766.
- de Laat MA, Sillence MN, Reiche DB. Phenotypic, hormonal, and clinical characteristics of equine endocrinopathic laminitis.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1456-1463.
- Fitzgerald DM, Walsh DM, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC, de Laat MA. Insulin and incretin responses to grazing in insulin-dysregulated and healthy ponies.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):225-232.
- Spelta CW. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current perspectives on diagnosis and management.. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:293-300.
- Banse HE, Schultz N, McCue M, Geor R, McFarlane D. Comparison of two methods for measurement of equine adrenocorticotropin.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Mar;30(2):233-237.
- Secombe CJ, Tan RHH, Perara DI, Byrne DP, Watts SP, Wearn JG. The Effect of Geographic Location on Circannual Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Plasma Concentrations in Horses in Australia.. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Sep;31(5):1533-1540.
- Fouché N, Gerber V, Gorgas D, Marolf V, Grouzmann E, van der Kolk JH, Navas de Solis C. Catecholamine Metabolism in a Shetland Pony with Suspected Pheochromocytoma and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Nov;30(6):1872-1878.
- Hart KA, Wochele DM, Norton NA, McFarlane D, Wooldridge AA, Frank N. Effect of Age, Season, Body Condition, and Endocrine Status on Serum Free Cortisol Fraction and Insulin Concentration in Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):653-63.
- Rendle DI, Duz M, Beech J, Parkin T, Durham AE. Investigation of single and paired measurements of adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):355-61.
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