Comparative aspects of glucose tolerance in camels, sheep, and ponies.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to gain informations about factors responsible for the higher level of plasma glucose in camels as compared to sheep and ponies. An intravenous glucose tolerance test was carried out with four camels, four ponies, and four sheep by infusing 1 mmol glucose per kg body weight intravenously within 3 min. Concentrations of glucose, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were estimated in venous plasma samples taken before and within 6 hr after infusion. Basal glucose values were higher in camels (7.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/l) than in ponies (4.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l) and sheep (3.4 +/- 0.2 mmol/l). The rate of glucose elimination was markedly lower in camels (0.270 +/- 0.018 hr-1) than in sheep (0.804 +/- 0.036 hr-1) and ponies (0.858 +/- 0.084 hr-1). The insulin response after glucose infusion was more pronounced in ponies and sheep than in camels. Concentrations of NEFA in plasma dropped 30 min after the infusion in all species, however, NEFA level decreased slower in camels than in sheep and ponies. It is concluded that the markedly higher plasma concentration of glucose in camels compared to sheep and ponies may be caused by a poorer insulin response and/or a reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin.
Publication Date: 1997-09-01 PubMed ID: 9243815DOI: 10.1016/s0300-9629(96)00449-5Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 research study examined the reasons behind the higher levels of plasma glucose in camels as compared to sheep and ponies. The comparative analysis involved the use of an intravenous glucose tolerance test, measurements of glucose, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). The findings suggest that the higher plasma glucose concentration in camels could be traced to a less potent insulin response or an attenuated tissue sensitivity to insulin.
Research Methodologies
- The study conducted an intravenous glucose tolerance test on four camels, four ponies, and four sheep. This involved injecting 1 mmol glucose per kg body weight within 3 minutes.
- Measurements of glucose, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were taken before and within 6 hours subsequent to administering the glucose infusion.
Key Findings
- Baseline glucose values were observed to be higher in camels (7.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/l) in contrast to ponies (4.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l) and sheep (3.4 +/- 0.2 mmol/l).
- Camels were found to eliminate glucose at a significantly slower rate (0.270 +/- 0.018 hr-1) as compared to sheep (0.804 +/- 0.036 hr-1) and ponies (0.858 +/- 0.084 hr-1).
- The insulin response following glucose infusion was found to be more pronounced in ponies and sheep than in camels, implying a lower insulin response in camels.
- NEFA levels in the plasma were found to decline 30 minutes post-infusion across all three species. However, the NEFA level decrease was slower in camels compared to sheep and ponies.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that the notably higher plasma glucose concentration observed in camels as compared to sheep and ponies could be traced back to a weaker insulin response or a measurable decline in tissue sensitivity towards insulin.
Cite This Article
APA
Elmahdi B, Sallmann HP, Fuhrmann H, von Engelhardt W, Kaske M.
(1997).
Comparative aspects of glucose tolerance in camels, sheep, and ponies.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol, 118(1), 147-151.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0300-9629(96)00449-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Camelus / blood
- Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
- Female
- Glucose Tolerance Test
- Horses / blood
- Insulin / blood
- Male
- Sheep / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Kandeel M, Al-Taher A, Venugopala KN, Marzok M, Morsy M, Nagaraja S. Camel Proteins and Enzymes: A Growing Resource for Functional Evolution and Environmental Adaptation. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:911511.
- Padalino B, Menchetti L. The First Protocol for Assessing Welfare of Camels. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:631876.
- Kirat D, Hamada M, Moustafa A, Miyasho T. Irisin/FNDC5: A participant in camel metabolism. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021 Jan;28(1):693-706.
- Ali A, Baby B, Vijayan R. From Desert to Medicine: A Review of Camel Genomics and Therapeutic Products. Front Genet 2019;10:17.
- Jirimutu, Wang Z, Ding G, Chen G, Sun Y, Sun Z, Zhang H, Wang L, Hasi S, Zhang Y, Li J, Shi Y, Xu Z, He C, Yu S, Li S, Zhang W, Batmunkh M, Ts B, Narenbatu, Unierhu, Bat-Ireedui S, Gao H, Baysgalan B, Li Q, Jia Z, Turigenbayila, Subudenggerile, Narenmanduhu, Wang Z, Wang J, Pan L, Chen Y, Ganerdene Y, Dabxilt, Erdemt, Altansha, Altansukh, Liu T, Cao M, Aruuntsever, Bayart, Hosblig, He F, Zha-ti A, Zheng G, Qiu F, Sun Z, Zhao L, Zhao W, Liu B, Li C, Chen Y, Tang X, Guo C, Liu W, Ming L, Temuulen, Cui A, Li Y, Gao J, Li J, Wurentaodi, Niu S, Sun T, Zhai Z, Zhang M, Chen C, Baldan T, Bayaer T, Li Y, Meng H. Genome sequences of wild and domestic bactrian camels. Nat Commun 2012;3:1202.
- Clore ER, Freeman LM, Bedenice D, Buffington CA, Anderson DE. Retrospective evaluation of parenteral nutrition in alpacas: 22 cases (2002-2008). J Vet Intern Med 2011 May-Jun;25(3):598-604.
- Al-Swailem AM, Shehata MM, Abu-Duhier FM, Al-Yamani EJ, Al-Busadah KA, Al-Arawi MS, Al-Khider AY, Al-Muhaimeed AN, Al-Qahtani FH, Manee MM, Al-Shomrani BM, Al-Qhtani SM, Al-Harthi AS, Akdemir KC, Inan MS, Otu HH. Sequencing, analysis, and annotation of expressed sequence tags for Camelus dromedarius. PLoS One 2010 May 19;5(5):e10720.
- Guo X, Jirimutu, Ming L, Wang Z. Deciphering genetic adaptations of Old World camels through comparative genomic analyses across all camelid species. iScience 2025 May 16;28(5):112477.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
