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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Comparison of insulin sensitivity between healthy neonatal f...
PloS one2022; 17(1); e0262584; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262584

Comparison of insulin sensitivity between healthy neonatal foals and horses using minimal model analysis.

Abstract: The equine neonate is considered to have impaired glucose tolerance due to delayed maturation of the pancreatic endocrine system. Few studies have investigated insulin sensitivity in newborn foals using dynamic testing methods. The objective of this study was to assess insulin sensitivity by comparing the insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (I-FSIGTT) between neonatal foals and adult horses. This study was performed on healthy neonatal foals (n = 12), 24 to 60 hours of age, and horses (n = 8), 3 to 14 years of age using dextrose (300 mg/kg IV) and insulin (0.02 IU/kg IV). Insulin sensitivity (SI), acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg), glucose effectiveness (Sg), and disposition index (DI) were calculated using minimal model analysis. Proxy measurements were calculated using fasting insulin and glucose concentrations. Nonparametric statistical methods were used for analysis and reported as median and interquartile range (IQR). SI was significantly higher in foals (18.3 L·min-1· μIU-1 [13.4-28.4]) compared to horses (0.9 L·min-1· μIU-1 [0.5-1.1]); (p < 0.0001). DI was higher in foals (12 × 103 [8 × 103-14 × 103]) compared to horses (4 × 102 [2 × 102-7 × 102]); (p < 0.0001). AIRg and Sg were not different between foals and horses. The modified insulin to glucose ratio (MIRG) was lower in foals (1.72 μIUinsulin2/10·L·mgglucose [1.43-2.68]) compared to horses (3.91 μIU insulin2/10·L·mgglucose [2.57-7.89]); (p = 0.009). The homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-BC%) was higher in horses (78.4% [43-116]) compared to foals (23.2% [17.8-42.2]); (p = 0.0096). Our results suggest that healthy neonatal foals are insulin sensitive in the first days of life, which contradicts current literature regarding the equine neonate. Newborn foals may be more insulin sensitive immediately after birth as an evolutionary adaptation to conserve energy during the transition to extrauterine life.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-14 PubMed ID: 35030228PubMed Central: PMC8759699DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262584Google 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.

This research investigates the insulin sensitivity in newborn foals and compares it with adult horses using dynamic testing methods, contradicting the presumption that newborn foals have impaired glucose tolerance. They found that newborn foals are actually more insulin sensitive immediately after birth, potentially as an evolutionary mechanism to preserve energy during the transition to life outside the womb.

Research Design and Methodology

  • The study was conducted on healthy neonatal foals (12 in total) aged 24 to 60 hours, and horses (8 in total) aged between 3 to 14 years.
  • An insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (I-FSIGTT) was performed, which involved administering dextrose and insulin.
  • Through minimal model analysis, parameters like insulin sensitivity (SI), acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg), glucose effectiveness (Sg), and disposition index (DI) were evaluated for both groups.
  • Additionally, proxy measurements were calculated using fasting insulin and glucose concentrations.

Findings and Interpretations

  • The SI was significantly higher in foals compared to horses, demonstrating greater insulin sensitivity.
  • The DI was also higher in foals than in adult horses, indicating the foals’ pancreas was able to release more insulin in response to the glucose administered.
  • There was no significant difference in AIRg and Sg between the two groups.
  • The modified insulin to glucose ratio (MIRG) was lower in foals than in horses. This indices lower insulin levels in the blood relative to blood glucose.
  • Separately, the homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-BC%) was found to be higher in horses as compared to foals, showing that adult horses’ beta cells function more actively to maintain homeostasis.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The results of this study suggest that healthy newborn foals are insulin sensitive in the first days of their life which contradicts the current belief in literature that they have impaired glucose tolerance.
  • It hypothesizes that an increased insulin sensitivity immediately after birth could be an evolutionary adaptation to conserve energy during the transition to life outside the uterus.
  • The findings of this study may inform the strategies related to caring for neonatal foals, altering our understanding of their metabolic functioning.

Cite This Article

APA
Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Snyder HA, Mazur SE, Kamr AM, Burns TA, Mossbarger JC, Toribio RE. (2022). Comparison of insulin sensitivity between healthy neonatal foals and horses using minimal model analysis. PLoS One, 17(1), e0262584. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262584

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: e0262584
PII: e0262584

Researcher Affiliations

Kinsella, Hannah M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Hostnik, Laura D
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Snyder, Hailey A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Mazur, Sarah E
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Kamr, Ahmed M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
Burns, Teresa A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Mossbarger, John C
  • Midland Acres Inc, Bloomingburg, Ohio, United States of America.
Toribio, Ramiro E
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / metabolism
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Female
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / methods
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Horses / physiology
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Islets of Langerhans / physiology
  • Male
  • Pancreas / metabolism

Grant Funding

  • T35 OD010977 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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