Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals.Objective
To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals.Animals
Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals.Methods
Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Foals of ?3?days of age from 3 hospitals and horse farms were classified as healthy and hospitalized (septic, sick nonseptic, neonatal maladjustment syndrome [NMS]) based on physical exam, medical history, and laboratory findings. Serum androgen and plasma ACTH concentrations were measured with immunoassays. Data were analyzed by nonparametric methods and univariate analysis.Results
Serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were higher upon admission in hospitalized foals (P? 3; P?Conclusions and clinical importanceSimilar to glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and progestagens, increased serum concentrations of androgens are associated with disease severity and adverse outcome in hospitalized newborn foals. In healthy foals, androgens decrease over time, however, remain elevated longer in septic and nonsurviving foals. Androgens could play a role in or reflect a response to disorders such as sepsis or NMS in newborn foals.
SUBMITTER: Swink JM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7848305 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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