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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2023; 37(2); 703-712; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16650

Effect of sirolimus on insulin dynamics in horses.

Abstract: Sirolimus, a mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor, suppresses insulin production in other species and has therapeutic potential for hyperinsulinemia in horses. Objective: Determine the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of sirolimus and evaluate its effect on insulin dynamics in healthy and insulin dysregulation (ID) horses. Methods: Eight Standardbred geldings. Methods: A PK study was performed followed by a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study. Blood sirolimus concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry. PK indices were estimated by fitting a 2-compartment model using nonlinear least squares regression. An oral glucose test (OGT) was conducted before and 4, 24, 72, and 144 hours after administration of sirolimus or placebo. Effects of time, treatment and animal on blood glucose and insulin concentrations were analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression. Sirolimus was then administered to 4 horses with dexamethasone-induced ID and an OGT was performed at baseline, after ID induction and after 7 days of treatment. Results: Median (range) maximum sirolimus concentration was 277.0 (247.5-316.06) ng/mL at 5 (5-10) min and half-life was 3552 (3248-4767) min. Mean (range) oral bioavailability was 9.5 (6.8-12.4)%. Sirolimus had a significant effect on insulin concentration 24 hours after a single dose: median (interquartile range) insulin at 60 min (5.0 [3.7-7.0] μIU/mL) was 37 (-5 to 54)% less than placebo (8.7 [5.8-13.7] μIU/mL, P = .03); and at 120 min (10.2 [8.4-12.2] μIU/mL) was 28 (-15 to 53)% less than placebo (14.9 [8.4-24.8] μIU/mL, P = .02). There was minimal effect on glucose concentration. Insulin responses decreased toward baseline in ID horses after 7 days of treatment. Conclusions: Sirolimus decreased the insulinemic response to glucose and warrants further investigation.
Publication Date: 2023-02-25 PubMed ID: 36840433PubMed Central: PMC10061188DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16650Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary
  • Journal Article

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 published in this article investigated the effects of the drug sirolimus on insulin levels in horses, particularly in those with insulin disorder. The study aimed to explore sirolimus’s potential as a treatment for hyperinsulinemia (excess insulin) in horses.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers examined the effects of sirolimus, a mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor, on insulin dynamics in both healthy and insulin dysregulated (ID) horses. Specifically, they used eight Standardbred geldings for their study.
  • They carried out a pharmacokinetic study (to understand how the body processes the drug) followed by a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study to examine specific effects of the drug.
  • After the administration of sirolimus or a placebo, blood samples were taken at specified intervals: before, and 4, 24, 72, and 144 hours after.
  • An oral glucose test (OGT) was also conducted at these times to monitor blood glucose and insulin concentrations. These results were analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression.
  • Part of the study also involved inducing ID in four horses with the steroid hormone dexamethasone, and subsequently administering sirolimus to assess its effects on insulin resistance caused by the hormone.

Results

  • The maximum sirolimus concentration in the blood was found to be 277.0 (247.5 – 316.06) ng/mL at around 5 to 10 minutes after administration with a half-life of 3552 (3248 – 4767) minutes.
  • The drug’s oral bioavailability (the proportion of the drug that enters circulation when introduced into the body) was recorded to be around 9.5 (6.8 – 12.4)%.
  • Results showed that sirolimus significantly reduced insulin concentrations 24 hours after a single dose. The median insulin level at 60 minutes was 37% less than the placebo.
  • The median insulin level at 120 minutes after administration was 28% less than the placebo’s effect. There was, however, minimal effect on the glucose concentration mainly indicating that the drug specifically targets insulin.
  • In the horses with an induced ID, insulin responses gradually decreased and moved toward baseline after 7 days of treatment with sirolimus.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that sirolimus could be potentially used to decrease the insulin response to glucose and may be beneficial as a treatment for horses experiencing hyperinsulinemia.

Cite This Article

APA
de Tonnerre DJ, Medina Torres CE, Stefanovski D, Robinson MA, Kemp KL, Bertin FR, van Eps AW. (2023). Effect of sirolimus on insulin dynamics in horses. J Vet Intern Med, 37(2), 703-712. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16650

Publication

ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Pages: 703-712

Researcher Affiliations

de Tonnerre, Demia J
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Medina Torres, Carlos E
  • Pferdeklinik SaarLorLux GmbH, Altforweiler, Germany.
Stefanovski, Darko
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Robinson, Mary A
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kemp, Kate L
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Bertin, François-René
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
van Eps, Andrew W
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Male
  • Insulin
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Glucose
  • Horse Diseases

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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