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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2019; 33(5); 2286-2293; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15618

Plasma concentrations of steroid precursors, steroids, neuroactive steroids, and neurosteroids in healthy neonatal foals from birth to 7 days of age.

Abstract: Transient hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction occurs in critically ill foals with sepsis and neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS). Cortisol is the most commonly measured steroid. However, a complex interaction of various steroid compounds might play a role in pathophysiology of this disorder. Objective: To identify steroid compounds present at high concentrations at birth that rapidly and steadily decrease within the first 7 days of life in healthy foals and that might be supportive diagnosis of NMS and other neonatal disorders. Methods: Ten healthy neonatal Quarter Horse foals (5 females and 5 males). Methods: Prospective study. Blood was collected in heparinized tubes within 30 minutes after birth, and at 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 hours of age. Plasma was separated and a panel of steroid compounds was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A nonlinear regression model was used to determine decay concentrations over time. Confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and significance was set a P ≤ .05. Results: Five compounds were identified: pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Pregnenolone and progesterone concentrations rapidly decreased by 24 hours of age and remained low throughout the first 7 days of life. Their half-life (95% CI) was short at 3.7 (3.4, 4.0) and 4.5 (2.8, 6.1) hours, respectively. No statistical differences in the concentrations of these compounds were found between males and females. Conclusions: Progesterone might be a useful marker for identifying continuous endogenous production of neuroactive steroids in foals with suspected NMS and other neonatal diseases.
Publication Date: 2019-09-05 PubMed ID: 31489708PubMed Central: PMC6766486DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15618Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research examines concentrations of various steroid compounds in newborn horses’ blood, aiming to identify those that could potentially aid in the diagnosis of neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) and other newborn disorders. The study discovered that levels of pregnenolone and progesterone significantly dropped within the first 24 hours of life, and progesterone could potentially serve as a marker for identifying ongoing production of certain neuroactive steroids in sick foals.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The intent of this research was to identify any steroid compounds that are present in high concentrations at birth in healthy foals but decrease rapidly within their first week of life. Identifying these compounds could aid in diagnosing NMS and other newborn horse diseases.
  • The study was designed as a prospective investigation involving ten healthy newborn Quarter Horse foals, with an equal distribution of males and females.
  • Blood samples were collected from these foals at various time intervals within their first week of life, starting from 30 minutes after birth up to 168 hours of their age.
  • The collected blood samples were then segregated to separate plasma, which was subsequently analyzed using a technique known as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This method allowed the researchers to identify and quantify the various steroid compounds present in the foals’ blood.
  • To identify any decreasing steroid levels over time, a nonlinear regression model was used. The research considered the findings statistically significant if the calculated p-value was less than or equal to 0.05.

Research Findings

  • They identified five steroid compounds: pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
  • They found that the concentrations of pregnenolone and progesterone reduced significantly by the time foals reached 24 hours of age and remained low throughout their first week of life. The half-life of these compounds was found to be short: 3.7 hours for pregnenolone and 4.5 hours for progesterone.
  • The study noted no statistical differences between male and female foals in terms of these compound concentrations.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that progesterone might be able to serve as a useful marker for continuous endogenous production of neuroactive steroids in foals suspected of having NMS and other newborn diseases.

This conclusion suggests that monitoring progesterone levels in newborn foals could help in the early detection and prompt treatment of these neonatal diseases, thereby potentially improving their health outcomes.

Cite This Article

APA
Aleman M, McCue PM, Chigerwe M, Madigan JE. (2019). 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, 33(5), 2286-2293. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15618

Publication

ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 2286-2293

Researcher Affiliations

Aleman, Monica
  • Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
McCue, Patrick M
  • Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Chigerwe, Munashe
  • Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
Madigan, John E
  • Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / blood
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / blood
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / blood
  • Desoxycorticosterone / blood
  • Female
  • Horses / blood
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Pregnenolone / blood
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Prospective Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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