Steroidogenic response of adrenal tissues after administration of ACTH to dogs with hypercortisolemia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate adrenal sex hormone concentrations in neutered dogs with hypercortisolemia.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
11 neutered dogs with hypercortisolemia.


METHODS
Serum samples obtained before and 1 hour after administration of ACTH were evaluated for concentrations of cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or androstenedione or both, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone.


RESULTS
For all dogs, concentrations of 1 or more adrenal sex hormones were substantially greater than reference range values before or after administration of ACTH. Testosterone concentration was not greater than reference range values in any of the dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Results emphasize the importance of ruling out hypercortisolemia before measuring adrenal sex hormone concentrations as a means of diagnosing adrenal hyperplasia syndrome (alopecia X) in dogs.
Frank
L A
LA
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901, USA.
Schmeitzel
L P
LP
Oliver
J W
JW
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000505:Alopecia / Q000662:veterinary; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone