Dataset Information

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

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 < .05), were associated with nonsurvival, decreased to 4.9-10.8%, 5.7-31%, and 30.8-62.8% admission values in healthy, SNS, and septic foals, respectively (P < .05), but remained unchanged or increased in nonsurviving foals. ACTH:androgen ratios were higher in septic and NMS foals (P < .05). Foals with decreased androgen clearance were more likely to die (odds ratio > 3; P < .05).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Similar 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 | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

Swink Jacob M JM Rings Lindsey M LM Snyder Hailey A HA McAuley Rachel C RC Burns Teresa A TA Dembek Katarzyna A KA Gilsenan William F WF Browne Nimet N Toribio Ramiro E RE

Journal of veterinary internal medicine 20201205 1

<h4>Background</h4>Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals.<h4>Objective</h4>To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals.<h4>Animals</h4>Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Foals of ≤3 days of age from 3 hospitals and horse farms were classified as healthy a ...[more]

PMID: 33277956

Similar Datasets

Project description:Adrenal hormones, ACTH plasma concentrations and the ultrasonographic evaluation of the adrenal glands are considered complementary in clinical evaluations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in several species. In dogs, age, size and weight have a significant effect on the ultrasonographic size of the adrenal glands. In neonatal foals, ultrasonographic evaluation and measurements of the adrenal glands have been demonstrated to be reliable; however, the effect of individual variables on ultrasonographic features has not been investigated, and the clinical usefulness of adrenal gland ultrasonography is still not known. The aims of this study were: (i) to provide and compare adrenal glands ultrasound measurements in healthy newborn Thoroughbred and Standardbred foals, and assess any effect of age, weight and sex on them; (ii) to assess and compare ACTH and steroid hormone concentrations in healthy neonatal foals of the two breeds. Venous blood samples and ultrasonographic images of the adrenal glands were collected from 10 healthy neonatal Thoroughbred and 10 healthy neonatal Standardbred foals. Ultrasonographic measurements of the adrenal glands were obtained and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone (P4) and aldosterone plasma concentrations were assessed. The ACTH/cortisol, ACTH/progesterone, ACTH/aldosterone, ACTH/DHEA and cortisol/DHEA ratios were calculated. A significant positive correlation was found between the height of the right adrenal gland and the foal's weight; the width of the right and left adrenal gland and the medulla was significantly lower in Thoroughbreds than in Standardbreds. Cortisol and ACTH plasma concentrations were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in Thoroughbreds compared with Standardbreds. The cortisol/DHEA ratio was significantly higher in Thoroughbreds. This study provides reference ranges for neonatal Thoroughbred and Standardbred foals, and suggests the presence of breed-related differences in ultrasonographic adrenal gland measurements, plasmatic cortisol and ACTH concentrations. The higher cortisol/DHEA ratio detected in Thoroughbred foals could suggest a different response to environmental stimulation in the two breeds.

Dataset Information

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

Background

Objective

Animals

Methods

Results

Conclusions and clinical importance

Publications

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

Similar Datasets

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