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American journal of veterinary research2005; 66(9); 1598-1604; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1598

Physiologic assessment of blood glucose homeostasis via combined intravenous glucose and insulin testing in horses.

Abstract: To characterize the physiologic response to i.v. bolus injection of glucose and insulin for development of a combined glucose-insulin test (CGIT) in horses. Methods: 6 healthy mares and 1 mare each with pituitary adenoma and urolithiasis. Methods: Horses were given a CGIT (glucose, 150 mg/kg; insulin, 0.1 U/kg); results were compared with a singular i.v. glucose tolerance test (GTT; 150 mg/kg) and a singular i.v. insulin sensitivity test (IST; 0.1 U/kg). Healthy horses were also given a CGIT after receiving xylazine and undergoing stress. Results: Physiologically, the CGIT resulted in a 2-phase curve with positive (hyperglycemic) and negative (hypoglycemic) portions; the positive phase came first (250% of baseline at 1 minute). The descending segment declined linearly to baseline by approximately 30 minutes and to a nadir at 58% of baseline by 75 minutes. After a 35-minute valley, a linear ascent to baseline began. Addition of insulin in the CGIT increased glucose utilization by approximately 4.5 times during the positive phase but not during the negative phase. The diseases' effects and experimental inhibition of insulin secretion with xylazine and stress were detectable by use of the 2 phases of the CGIT. Only a single positive phase resulted from the GTT and a single negative phase from the IST CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The CGIT resulted in a consistent, well-defined glycemia profile, which can be disrupted experimentally or by a disease process. The CGIT has clinical potential because it provides integrated information and more information than either the singular GTT or IST.
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Publication Date: 2005-11-03 PubMed ID: 16261835DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1598Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 delved into how the physiological response in horses to the combined injection of insulin and glucose can be studied for the development of a blood glucose homeostasis assessment tool. By testing the reactions in healthy horses as well as those with certain illnesses, researchers were able to deduce that the Combined Glucose-Insulin Test (CGIT) provides a comprehensive profile of glucose metabolism and utilization.

Methods

For the experiment, the researchers gathered a test group which consisted of:

  • Six healthy mares
  • One mare with a pituitary adenoma
  • One mare suffering from urolithiasis (the formation of stones in the bladder or urinary tract)

The horses were given a CGIT with specific doses of insulin and glucose and the effects and changes were studied. These results were then compared to a singular Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) and a singular Intravenous Insulin Sensitivity Test (IST).

Additionally, CGITs were performed on healthy horses that were under stress or under the influence of xylazine, a relaxant and analgesic.

Results

The CGIT resulted in a two-phase curve. The first phase was a positive or hyperglycemic phase, causing an immediate spike in blood glucose levels (around 250% of the baseline at 1 minute). This was followed by a descending segment that declined linearly back to baseline values.

The addition of insulin in the CGIT significantly increased glucose utilization during the positive phase, although not during the negative phase. By using the two phases, researchers were able to detect the effects of specific diseases and the inhibition of insulin secretion due to xylazine or stress.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The repercussions stemming from this research indicated that the CGIT consistently produced a distinct profile of blood glucose levels. Disruptions to this profile by disease or experimental manipulation were identifiable thus underlining the CGIT’s clinical potential.

Furthermore, the CGIT provided more holistic and integrated information compared to either the singular GTT or IST, making it a potentially more effective tool for understanding and assessing blood glucose homeostasis in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Eiler H, Frank N, Andrews FM, Oliver JW, Fecteau KA. (2005). Physiologic assessment of blood glucose homeostasis via combined intravenous glucose and insulin testing in horses. Am J Vet Res, 66(9), 1598-1604. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1598

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 9
Pages: 1598-1604

Researcher Affiliations

Eiler, Hugo
  • Department of Comparative Medicine, Physiology Section, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
Frank, Nicholas
    Andrews, Frank M
      Oliver, Jack W
        Fecteau, Kellie A

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Blood Glucose / drug effects
          • Blood Glucose / physiology
          • Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis
          • Diabetes Mellitus / veterinary
          • Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine / veterinary
          • Evaluation Studies as Topic
          • Glucose / administration & dosage
          • Glucose / pharmacology
          • Homeostasis / physiology
          • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
          • Horses
          • Insulin / administration & dosage
          • Insulin / pharmacology
          • Time Factors

          Citations

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