FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 35(1); 538-549; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15974

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

Abstract: Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals. Objective: To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals. Methods: Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Foals of ≤3 days of age from 3 hospitals and horse farms were classified as healthy and hospitalized (septic, sick nonseptic, neonatal maladjustment syndrome [NMS]) based on physical exam, medical history, and laboratory findings. Serum androgen and plasma ACTH concentrations were measured with immunoassays. Data were analyzed by nonparametric methods and univariate analysis. Results: Serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were higher upon admission in hospitalized foals (P <  .05), were associated with nonsurvival, decreased to 4.9-10.8%, 5.7-31%, and 30.8-62.8% admission values in healthy, SNS, and septic foals, respectively (P < .05), but remained unchanged or increased in nonsurviving foals. ACTH:androgen ratios were higher in septic and NMS foals (P  3; P < .05). Conclusions: Similar to glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and progestagens, increased serum concentrations of androgens are associated with disease severity and adverse outcome in hospitalized newborn foals. In healthy foals, androgens decrease over time, however, remain elevated longer in septic and nonsurviving foals. Androgens could play a role in or reflect a response to disorders such as sepsis or NMS in newborn foals.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-12-05 PubMed ID: 33277956PubMed Central: PMC7848305DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15974Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study

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 study measures the levels of androgen hormones in newborn foals and examines their relationship with illness severity and foal survival rates. The findings suggest that elevated androgen levels may be associated with more severe diseases and poor survival outcomes among sickly newborn foals, indicating a possible role of these hormones in sepsis and neonatal maladjustment syndrome.

Study Design and Methods

  • The research involved a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study of a total of 225 foals – 145 of them were hospitalized due to various health conditions and 80 foals were healthy. All the foals were 3 days old or less.
  • They were assessed and classified into different groups (septic, sick nonseptic, neonatal maladjustment syndrome [NMS] or healthy) based on medical history, physical exam, and laboratory findings.
  • The investigators analyzed the concentration of androgens (hormones like dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) in foal serum and plasma ACTH (a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands) levels using immunoassays.
  • The data collection and analysis involved nonparametric methods and univariate analysis.

Key Findings

  • The findings indicated that upon admission, the hospitalized foals demonstrated higher levels of the measured androgens (DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, and DHT) in comparison to their healthy counterparts.
  • These elevated androgen levels were correlated with an increased risk of foal death, and they lowered to varying amounts in healthy, sick nonseptic (SNS), and septic foals. However, for nonsurviving foals, these levels either remained increased or unaltered.
  • The ratio between ACTH and androgens was higher in septic and NMS foals, suggesting a more active adrenal gland response in these sick foals;
  • Foals that can’t efficiently clear androgens from their body were more likely to die, with an odds ratio greater than 3.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that similar to other adrenal hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, progestagens), increased levels of androgens in the blood are associated with more severe illnesses and adverse outcomes in hospitalized newborn foals.
  • In healthy foals, androgens reduce naturally over time, but they remain elevated for a longer period in septic and nonsurviving foals.
  • This implies that these androgen hormones may either play a role in or be a physiological response to disorders such as sepsis or NMS in newborn foals, highlighting their potential as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in equine neonatal medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Swink JM, Rings LM, Snyder HA, McAuley RC, Burns TA, Dembek KA, Gilsenan WF, Browne N, Toribio RE. (2020). Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals. J Vet Intern Med, 35(1), 538-549. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15974

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 1
Pages: 538-549

Researcher Affiliations

Swink, Jacob M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Rings, Lindsey M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
  • Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Snyder, Hailey A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
McAuley, Rachel C
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Burns, Teresa A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Dembek, Katarzyna A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Gilsenan, William F
  • Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Browne, Nimet
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Toribio, Ramiro E
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Androgens
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sepsis / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • T35 OD010977 / NIH HHS
  • 520493 / The Ohio State University Equine Research Funds
  • GRT00038668 / The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 50 references
  1. Paradis MR. Update on neonatal septicemia.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1994 Apr;10(1):109-35.
    pubmed: 8039028doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30371-1google scholar: lookup
  2. Toribio RE. Endocrine dysregulation in critically ill foals and horses.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011 Apr;27(1):35-47.
    pubmed: 21392652doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.011google scholar: lookup
  3. Fowden AL, Forhead AJ, Ousey JC. Endocrine adaptations in the foal over the perinatal period.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2012 Feb;(41):130-9.
    pubmed: 22594041doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00505.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. 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.
    pmc: PMC6639474pubmed: 31111575doi: 10.1111/jvim.15527google scholar: lookup
  5. Hart KA, Barton MH. Adrenocortical insufficiency in horses and foals.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011 Apr;27(1):19-34.
    pmc: PMC3073730pubmed: 21392651doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.005google scholar: lookup
  6. O'Shaughnessy PJ, Fleming LM, Jackson G, Hochgeschwender U, Reed P, Baker PJ. Adrenocorticotropic hormone directly stimulates testosterone production by the fetal and neonatal mouse testis.. Endocrinology 2003 Aug;144(8):3279-84.
    pubmed: 12865302doi: 10.1210/en.2003-0277google scholar: lookup
  7. Alsop D, Ings JS, Vijayan MM. Adrenocorticotropic hormone suppresses gonadotropin-stimulated estradiol release from zebrafish ovarian follicles.. PLoS One 2009 Jul 31;4(7):e6463.
    pmc: PMC2714464pubmed: 19649243doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006463google scholar: lookup
  8. Conley AJ. Review of the reproductive endocrinology of the pregnant and parturient mare.. Theriogenology 2016 Jul 1;86(1):355-65.
    pubmed: 27156685doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.049google scholar: lookup
  9. Ousey JC, Forhead AJ, Rossdale PD, Grainger L, Houghton E, Fowden AL. Ontogeny of uteroplacental progestagen production in pregnant mares during the second half of gestation.. Biol Reprod 2003 Aug;69(2):540-8.
    pubmed: 12700198doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.013292google scholar: lookup
  10. Legacki EL, Corbin CJ, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Stanley SD, Conley AJ. Steroidogenic enzyme activities in the pre- and post-parturient equine placenta.. Reproduction 2018 Jan;155(1):51-59.
    pubmed: 29066529doi: 10.1530/rep-17-0472google scholar: lookup
  11. Aleman M, McCue PM, Chigerwe M, Madigan JE. Plasma concentrations of steroid precursors, steroids, neuroactive steroids, and neurosteroids in healthy neonatal foals from birth to 7 days of age.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2286-2293.
    pmc: PMC6766486pubmed: 31489708doi: 10.1111/jvim.15618google scholar: lookup
  12. Rossdale PD, Ousey JC, McGladdery AJ, Prandi S, Holdstock N, Grainger L, Houghton E. A retrospective study of increased plasma progestagen concentrations in compromised neonatal foals.. Reprod Fertil Dev 1995;7(3):567-75.
    pubmed: 8606970doi: 10.1071/rd9950567google scholar: lookup
  13. Müller V, Curcio BR, Toribio RE, Feijó LS, Borba LA, Canisso IF, Nogueira CEW. Cortisol, progesterone, 17αOHprogesterone, and pregnenolone in foals born from mare's hormone-treated for experimentally induced ascending placentitis.. Theriogenology 2019 Jan 1;123:139-144.
    pubmed: 30308389doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.06.024google scholar: lookup
  14. Dembek KA, Onasch K, Hurcombe SD, MacGillivray KC, Slovis NM, Barr BS, Reed SM, Toribio RE. Renin-Angiotensin-aldosterone system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in hospitalized newborn foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2013 Mar-Apr;27(2):331-8.
    pubmed: 23398197doi: 10.1111/jvim.12043google scholar: lookup
  15. Dembek KA, Timko KJ, Johnson LM, Hart KA, Barr BS, David B, Burns TA, Toribio RE. Steroids, steroid precursors, and neuroactive steroids in critically ill equine neonates.. Vet J 2017 Jul;225:42-49.
    pubmed: 28720298doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.05.009google scholar: lookup
  16. Dembek KA, Hurcombe SD, Stewart AJ, Barr BS, MacGillivray KC, Kinee M, Elam J, Toribio RE. Association of aldosterone and arginine vasopressin concentrations and clinical markers of hypoperfusion in neonatal foals.. Equine Vet J 2016 Mar;48(2):176-81.
    pubmed: 25421257doi: 10.1111/evj.12393google scholar: lookup
  17. Aleman M, Pickles KJ, Conley AJ, Stanley S, Haggett E, Toth B, Madigan JE. Abnormal plasma neuroactive progestagen derivatives in ill, neonatal foals presented to the neonatal intensive care unit.. Equine Vet J 2013 Nov;45(6):661-5.
    pubmed: 23600660doi: 10.1111/evj.12065google scholar: lookup
  18. Hart KA, Slovis NM, Barton MH. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in hospitalized neonatal foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2009 Jul-Aug;23(4):901-12.
    pubmed: 19496914doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0323.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  19. Madigan JE, Haggettt EF, Pickles KJ, Conley A, Stanley S, Moeller B, Toth B, Aleman M. Allopregnanolone infusion induced neurobehavioural alterations in a neonatal foal: is this a clue to the pathogenesis of neonatal maladjustment syndrome?. Equine Vet J Suppl 2012 Feb;(41):109-12.
    pubmed: 22594038doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00504.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  20. Stárka L, Dušková M, Hill M. Dehydroepiandrosterone: a neuroactive steroid.. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2015 Jan;145:254-60.
    pubmed: 24704258doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.03.008google scholar: lookup
  21. Reddy DS. Testosterone modulation of seizure susceptibility is mediated by neurosteroids 3alpha-androstanediol and 17beta-estradiol.. Neuroscience 2004;129(1):195-207.
    pubmed: 15489042doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.08.002google scholar: lookup
  22. Reddy DS, Jian K. The testosterone-derived neurosteroid androstanediol is a positive allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors.. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010 Sep 1;334(3):1031-41.
    pmc: PMC2939675pubmed: 20551294doi: 10.1124/jpet.110.169854google scholar: lookup
  23. Brewer BD, Koterba AM. Development of a scoring system for the early diagnosis of equine neonatal sepsis.. Equine Vet J 1988 Jan;20(1):18-22.
    pubmed: 3366100doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01445.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  24. Toribio RE. Equine Neonatal Encephalopathy: Facts, Evidence, and Opinions.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2019 Aug;35(2):363-378.
    pubmed: 31088699doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.004google scholar: lookup
  25. Hurcombe SD, Toribio RE, Slovis N, Kohn CW, Refsal K, Saville W, Mudge MC. Blood arginine vasopressin, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and cortisol concentrations at admission in septic and critically ill foals and their association with survival.. J Vet Intern Med 2008 May-Jun;22(3):639-47.
    pubmed: 18466247doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0090.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  26. Fowden AL, Forhead AJ, Ousey JC. The Endocrinology of equine parturition.. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2008 Jul;116(7):393-403.
    pubmed: 18704835doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1042409google scholar: lookup
  27. Ousey JC. Hormone profiles and treatments in the late pregnant mare.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2006 Dec;22(3):727-47.
    pubmed: 17129800doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2006.08.004google scholar: lookup
  28. Legacki EL, Ball BA, Corbin CJ, Loux SC, Scoggin KE, Stanley SD, Conley AJ. Equine fetal adrenal, gonadal and placental steroidogenesis.. Reproduction 2017 Oct;154(4):445-454.
    pubmed: 28878092doi: 10.1530/rep-17-0239google scholar: lookup
  29. Raeside JI. A Brief Account of the Discovery of the Fetal/Placental Unit for Estrogen Production in Equine and Human Pregnancies: Relation to Human Medicine.. Yale J Biol Med 2017 Sep;90(3):449-461.
    pmc: PMC5612187pubmed: 28955183
  30. Holtan DW, Houghton E, Silver M, Fowden AL, Ousey J, Rossdale PD. Plasma progestagens in the mare, fetus and newborn foal.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1991;44:517-28.
    pubmed: 1795295
  31. Houghton E, Holtan D, Grainger L, Voller BE, Rossdale PD, Ousey JC. Plasma progestagen concentrations in the normal and dysmature newborn foal.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1991;44:609-17.
    pubmed: 1795303
  32. PETERSON RE. Adrenocortical steroid metabolism and adrenal cortical function in liver disease.. J Clin Invest 1960 Feb;39(2):320-31.
    pmc: PMC441810pubmed: 14432260doi: 10.1172/jci104043google scholar: lookup
  33. Pirog EC, Collins DC. Metabolism of dihydrotestosterone in human liver: importance of 3alpha- and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999 Sep;84(9):3217-21.
    pubmed: 10487690doi: 10.1210/jcem.84.9.5963google scholar: lookup
  34. Boonen E, Vervenne H, Meersseman P, Andrew R, Mortier L, Declercq PE, Vanwijngaerden YM, Spriet I, Wouters PJ, Vander Perre S, Langouche L, Vanhorebeek I, Walker BR, Van den Berghe G. Reduced cortisol metabolism during critical illness.. N Engl J Med 2013 Apr 18;368(16):1477-88.
    pmc: PMC4413428pubmed: 23506003doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1214969google scholar: lookup
  35. Haggett EF, Magdesian KG, Kass PH. Clinical implications of high liver enzyme activities in hospitalized neonatal foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011 Sep 1;239(5):661-7.
    pubmed: 21879968doi: 10.2460/javma.239.5.661google scholar: lookup
  36. Tanriverdi F, Silveira LF, MacColl GS, Bouloux PM. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis: immune function and autoimmunity.. J Endocrinol 2003 Mar;176(3):293-304.
    pubmed: 12630914doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1760293google scholar: lookup
  37. Dasgupta A, Saxena R. Regulatory T cells: a review.. Natl Med J India 2012 Nov-Dec;25(6):341-51.
    pubmed: 23998865
  38. Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Mapes S, Leutenegger CM. Expression of molecular markers in blood of neonatal foals with sepsis.. Am J Vet Res 2006 Jun;67(6):1045-9.
    pubmed: 16740100doi: 10.2460/ajvr.67.6.1045google scholar: lookup
  39. Burton AJ, Giguère S, Arnold RD. Pharmacokinetics, pulmonary disposition and tolerability of liposomal gentamicin and free gentamicin in foals.. Equine Vet J 2015 Jul;47(4):467-72.
    pubmed: 24943347doi: 10.1111/evj.12309google scholar: lookup
  40. Hart KA, Barton MH, Ferguson DC, Berghaus R, Slovis NM, Heusner GL, Hurley DJ. Serum free cortisol fraction in healthy and septic neonatal foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Mar-Apr;25(2):345-55.
    pubmed: 21281351doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0667.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  41. Somboonporn W, Davis SR. Testosterone effects on the breast: implications for testosterone therapy for women.. Endocr Rev 2004 Jun;25(3):374-88.
    pubmed: 15180949doi: 10.1210/er.2003-0016google scholar: lookup
  42. Dong Q, Hawker F, McWilliam D, Bangah M, Burger H, Handelsman DJ. Circulating immunoreactive inhibin and testosterone levels in men with critical illness.. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1992 Apr;36(4):399-404.
    pubmed: 1424172doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1992.tb01466.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  43. Tsang G, Insel MB, Weis JM, Morgan MA, Gough MS, Frasier LM, Mack CM, Doolin KP, Graves BT, Apostolakos MJ, Pietropaoli AP. Bioavailable estradiol concentrations are elevated and predict mortality in septic patients: a prospective cohort study.. Crit Care 2016 Oct 21;20(1):335.
    pmc: PMC5073735pubmed: 27765072doi: 10.1186/s13054-016-1525-9google scholar: lookup
  44. Majewska MD. Neuronal actions of dehydroepiandrosterone. Possible roles in brain development, aging, memory, and affect.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995 Dec 29;774:111-20.
    pubmed: 8597451doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb17375.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  45. Gartside SE, Griffith NC, Kaura V, Ingram CD. The neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolites alter 5-HT neuronal activity via modulation of GABAA receptors.. J Psychopharmacol 2010 Nov;24(11):1717-24.
    pubmed: 19493957doi: 10.1177/0269881109105836google scholar: lookup
  46. Wong DM, Vo DT, Alcott CJ, Stewart AJ, Peterson AD, Sponseller BA, Hsu WH. Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation tests in healthy foals from birth to 12 weeks of age.. Can J Vet Res 2009 Jan;73(1):65-72.
    pmc: PMC2613599pubmed: 19337398
  47. Hart KA, Heusner GL, Norton NA, Barton MH. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis assessment in healthy term neonatal foals utilizing a paired low dose/high dose ACTH stimulation test.. J Vet Intern Med 2009 Mar-Apr;23(2):344-51.
    pubmed: 19192152doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.00271.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  48. Weber EJ, Sanchez LC, Giguère S. Re-evaluation of the sepsis score in equine neonates.. Equine Vet J 2015 May;47(3):275-8.
    pubmed: 24750245doi: 10.1111/evj.12279google scholar: lookup
  49. Corley KTT, Furr MO. Evaluation of a score designed to predict sepsis in foals.. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2003;13(3):149‐155.
  50. Wong DM, Ruby RE, Dembek KA, Barr BS, Reuss SM, Magdesian KG, Olsen E, Burns T, Slovis NM, Wilkins PA. Evaluation of updated sepsis scoring systems and systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and their association with sepsis in equine neonates.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 May;32(3):1185-1193.
    pmc: PMC5980351pubmed: 29582480doi: 10.1111/jvim.15087google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Boakari YL, Legacki E, Alonso MA, Dos Santos ACF, Nichi M, Conley AJ, Fernandes CB. Postnatal Dynamics of Circulating Steroid Hormones in Mule and Equine Neonates. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 28;9(11).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9110598pubmed: 36356075google scholar: lookup
  2. Lauteri E, Mariella J, Beccati F, Roelfsema E, Castagnetti C, Pepe M, Peric T, Barbato O, Montillo M, Rouge S, Freccero F. Adrenal Gland Ultrasonographic Measurements and Plasma Hormone Concentrations in Clinically Healthy Newborn Thoroughbred and Standardbred Foals. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 19;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061832pubmed: 34205258google scholar: lookup
  3. Wilkins PA, Wong D, Slovis NM, Collins N, Barr BS, MacKenzie C, De Solis CN, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, Burns T, Perkins G, Delvescovo B, Sanchez LC, Kemper AM, Magdesian KG, Bedenice D, Taylor SD, Gold J, Dunkel B, Pranzo G, Constable PD. The Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Predictors of Infection and Mortality in 1068 Critically Ill Newborn Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70004.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70004pubmed: 40091577google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,970 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.