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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Spring and fall blood concentrations of adrenocorticotropic ...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2024; 65(4); 335-342; doi: 10.17226/11653

Spring and fall blood concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone, insulin, and thyroxine in healthy horses in Saskatchewan.

Abstract: To characterize concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin, and thyroxine (T4) at 2 times of the year in healthy horses in Saskatchewan. Unassigned: A prospective, observational study was carried out in 52 healthy, client-owned horses. Inclusion criteria were no recent travel outside of Saskatchewan, normal physical examination findings, and no history or evidence of ongoing illness. Blood concentrations of ACTH, insulin and T4 were determined by chemiluminescence. Samples were collected in spring and fall and compared using the paired Student's -test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the associations between ACTH, T4, and insulin concentrations and gender, age, season, body condition score, glucose concentration, and breed. Unassigned: There were increases in both ACTH and insulin concentrations in the fall compared to spring ( < 0.001 and = 0.001, respectively). Other than season, insulin concentration was associated with breed, whereas ACTH concentration was associated with age. Finally, T4 concentration was associated with breed and glucose concentration, but not with season. Unassigned: These results highlighted the differences between spring and fall concentrations of both ACTH and insulin in healthy horses residing in the Canadian prairie provinces, which are known for extreme differences in summer and winter temperatures as well as day length. Geographically adjusted reference values are necessary to account for these variations, to improve diagnostic accuracy. This is the first published Canadian study evaluating these factors and their associations with hormone concentrations in clinically healthy animals. Concentrations sanguines printanières et automnales d’hormone adrénocorticotrope, d’insuline et de thyroxine chez des chevaux en bonne santé en Saskatchewan. Unassigned: Caractériser les concentrations d’hormone adrénocorticotrope (ACTH), d’insuline et de thyroxine (T4) à 2 moments de l’année chez des chevaux en bonne santé en Saskatchewan. Unassigned: Une étude observationnelle prospective a été réalisée auprès de 52 chevaux en bonne santé appartenant à des clients. Les critères d’inclusion étaient l’absence de voyage récent à l’extérieur de la Saskatchewan, les résultats normaux de l’examen physique et l’absence d’antécédents ou de signes de maladie persistante. Les concentrations sanguines d’ACTH, d’insuline et de T4 ont été déterminées par chimiluminescence. Des échantillons ont été collectés au printemps et à l’automne et comparés à l’aide du test de Student apparié ou du test du rang de signe de Wilcoxon. Des équations d’estimation généralisées ont été utilisées pour évaluer les associations entre les concentrations d’ACTH, de T4 et d’insuline et le sexe, l’âge, la saison, l’état corporel, la concentration de glucose et la race. Unassigned: Il y avait une augmentation des concentrations d’ACTH et d’insuline à l’automne par rapport au printemps ( < 0,001 et = 0,001, respectivement). Hormis la saison, la concentration d’insuline était associée à la race, alors que la concentration d’ACTH était associée à l’âge. Enfin, la concentration de T4 était associée à la race et à la concentration en glucose, mais pas à la saison. Unassigned: Ces résultats ont mis en évidence les différences entre les concentrations printanières et automnales d’ACTH et d’insuline chez les chevaux en bonne santé résidant dans les provinces des Prairies canadiennes, reconnues pour leurs différences extrêmes de températures estivales et hivernales ainsi que de durée du jour. Des valeurs de référence géographiquement ajustées sont nécessaires pour tenir compte de ces variations et améliorer la précision du diagnostic. Il s’agit de la première étude canadienne publiée évaluant ces facteurs et leurs associations avec les concentrations d’hormones chez des animaux cliniquement sains.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
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Publication Date: 2024-04-02 PubMed ID: 38562984PubMed Central: PMC10945457DOI: 10.17226/11653Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Observational Study
  • 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 article seeks to determine the differences in the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin, and thyroxine (T4) in healthy horses in Saskatchewan during spring and fall.

Methodology

  • The study was a prospective, observational type, involving 52 healthy, client-owned horses. Only horses which had not traveled recently outside Saskatchewan, had a normal physical examination findings, and no history or evidence of ongoing illness were included in the study.
  • The researchers used chemiluminescence to determine the blood concentrations of ACTH, insulin, and T4. The samples for the study were collected in spring and fall.
  • Data analysis was conducted using paired Student’s -test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, to compare the spring and fall samples.
  • In addition, the researchers used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to examine the relations between ACTH, T4, and insulin concentrations and variables such as gender, age, season, body condition score, glucose concentration, and breed.

Findings

  • It was found that there were increases in both ACTH and insulin concentrations in the fall compared to spring. Besides season, insulin concentration was found to be related to breed, while ACTH concentration was linked with age.
  • Moreover, T4 concentration was discovered to be associated with breed and glucose concentration, but not with the season.

Conclusion and Contributions

  • The study results emphasized the differences between spring and fall concentrations of both ACTH and insulin in healthy horses residing in the Canadian prairie provinces. As these provinces are known for their extreme differences in summer and winter temperatures as well as day length, the study highlights the need for geographically adjusted reference values. These adjustments would help to account for these variations, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy.
  • This study is notably the first published Canadian research evaluating these factors and their associations with hormone concentrations in clinically healthy animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Viviani P, Lavado RA, Chavarria NH, Ragno VM, Montgomery JB. (2024). Spring and fall blood concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone, insulin, and thyroxine in healthy horses in Saskatchewan. Can Vet J, 65(4), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.17226/11653

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 65
Issue: 4
Pages: 335-342

Researcher Affiliations

Viviani, Paula
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Viviani, Lavado, Chavarria, Ragno, Montgomery); University of São Paulo, 87 Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil (Lavado).
Lavado, Ronaldo Avella
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Viviani, Lavado, Chavarria, Ragno, Montgomery); University of São Paulo, 87 Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil (Lavado).
Chavarria, Nora H
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Viviani, Lavado, Chavarria, Ragno, Montgomery); University of São Paulo, 87 Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil (Lavado).
Ragno, Valentina M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Viviani, Lavado, Chavarria, Ragno, Montgomery); University of São Paulo, 87 Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil (Lavado).
Montgomery, Julia B
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Viviani, Lavado, Chavarria, Ragno, Montgomery); University of São Paulo, 87 Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil (Lavado).

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Insulin
  • Thyroxine
  • Seasons
  • Saskatchewan
  • Prospective Studies
  • Glucose

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