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Pancreatic endocrine function in newborn pony foals after induced or spontaneous delivery at term.
Abstract: During the switch from parenteral to enteral nutrition at birth, endocrine glands such as the pancreas must assume a glucoregulatory role for the first time if the neonate is to survive the transition to extrauterine life. Objective: To determine the adaptations in pancreatic endocrine function during the neonatal period in term pony foals delivered by different methods. Methods: By measuring insulin and glucagon concentrations, pancreatic alpha and beta cell responses to exogenous glucose (0.5 g/kg bwt) and arginine (100 mg/kg bwt) and to endogenous muzzling for 90 min were determined periodically over the first 10 post natal days in foals born spontaneously (n = 8) or by induction of labour with oxytocin at term (n = 7). Results: Pancreatic alpha and beta cell function changed with post natal age in a manner related to the method of delivery. Induced foals had 2-3 fold greater beta cell responses to exogenous glucose and arginine, despite similar glucose and alpha-amino nitrogen clearances compared with spontaneously delivered foals. Pancreatic beta cell responses to glucose decreased by 50% while those to arginine doubled with increasing age in induced but not spontaneously delivered foals. In contrast, pancreatic alpha cell responses to arginine doubled with increasing age in foals born spontaneously but not by induction. These differences in pancreatic endocrine cell function with delivery method were associated with 2-3 fold higher cortisol levels in the induced foals and with differences in the absolute and age-related changes in basal concentrations of glucose, alpha-amino nitrogen and insulin. Conclusions: Induced delivery leads to changes in pancreatic beta cell sensitivity to glucose and/or tissue insulin resistance in association with persistent neonatal hypercortisolaemia. Conclusions: The altered post natal development of pancreatic endocrine function with induced delivery may compromise glucoregulation and adaptation to enteral nutrition in neonatal foals with potential consequences long after birth.
Publication Date: 2012-05-19 PubMed ID: 22594023DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00447.xGoogle 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.
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research explores the postnatal development of pancreatic endocrine function in newborn pony foals delivered either naturally or through induced labor at term, and how these different delivery methods might affect a foal’s adaptation to life outside the uterus, including their glucoregulation and adaptation to nutritional changes.
Objective and Methods
- The aim of this research was to observe changes in pancreatic endocrine function following birth in pony foals, depending on their method of delivery – whether they were born naturally or through induced labor at term.
- The researchers measured insulin and glucagon levels in the foals, identifying the response of pancreatic alpha and beta cells to exogenous glucose and arginine. These measurements were taken periodically across the first 10 days following birth.
- The investigation included a total of 15 foals, 8 of which were born spontaneously, and 7 through labor induction using oxytocin at term.
Results
- The study found differences in pancreatic endocrine function depending on the method of delivery.
- Foals born through induced labor presented 2-3 times greater beta cell responses to exogenous glucose and arginine, even though glucose and alpha-amino nitrogen clearances were similar to those of foals born naturally.
- Over time, the beta cell responses to glucose in foals born through induced labor decreased by 50%, while responses to arginine doubled. These changes were not observed in foals born naturally.
- The opposite effect was observed in alpha cell responses: foals born naturally showed a doubling in response over time, while no such change was noticed in foals born through induced labor.
- These changes were directly related to the method of delivery, as induced foals also expressed 2-3 times higher cortisol levels.
Conclusions
- Induced delivery seems to affect pancreatic beta cell’s sensitivity to glucose and could also lead to possible tissue insulin resistance, which is connected to persistent neonatal hypercortisolaemia (excessive cortisol levels).
- Therefore, induced delivery may negatively affect the postnatal development of pancreatic endocrine function, potentially posing long-term issues for glucoregulation and the adaptation of neonatal foals to enteral nutrition (dietary changes following birth).
Cite This Article
APA
Holdstock NB, Allen VL, Fowden AL.
(2012).
Pancreatic endocrine function in newborn pony foals after induced or spontaneous delivery at term.
Equine Vet J Suppl(41), 30-37.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00447.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Blood Glucose / physiology
- Female
- Horses
- Insulin / blood
- Labor, Induced / veterinary
- Pancreas / drug effects
- Pancreas / physiology
- Pregnancy
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Snyder HA, Mazur SE, Kamr AM, Burns TA, Mossbarger JC, Toribio RE. Comparison of insulin sensitivity between healthy neonatal foals and horses using minimal model analysis. PLoS One 2022;17(1):e0262584.
- Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Rings LM, Swink JM, Burns TA, Toribio RE. Glucagon, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol in response to carbohydrates and fasting in healthy neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jan;35(1):550-559.
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