I plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with hyperadrenocorticism.
OBJECTIVE
To determine plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating-hormone (alpha-MSH) in healthy ferrets and ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism.


METHODS
16 healthy, neutered, privately owned ferrets, 28 healthy laboratory ferrets (21 sexually intact and 7 neutered), and 28 ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism.


METHODS
Healthy ferrets were used for determination of reference plasma concentrations of ACTH and a-MSH. Diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was made on the basis of history, clinical signs, urinary corticoid-to-creatinine ratios, ultrasonography of the adrenal glands, and macroscopic or microscopic evaluation of the adrenal glands. Blood samples were collected during isoflurane anesthesia. Plasma concentrations of ACTH and alpha-MSH were measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Plasma concentrations of ACTH in 23 healthy neutered ferrets during the breeding season ranged from 4 to 145 ng/L (median, 50 ng/L). Plasma concentrations of alpha-MSH in 44 healthy neutered or sexually intact ferrets during the breeding season ranged from < 5 to 617 ng/L (median, 37 ng/L). Reference values (the central 95% of the values) for ACTH and alpha-MSH were 13 to 100 ng/L and 8 to 180 ng/L, respectively. Plasma concentrations of ACTH and alpha-MSH in ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism ranged from 1 to 265 ng/L (median, 45 ng/L) and 10 to 148 ng/L (median, 46 ng/L), respectively. These values were not significantly different from those of healthy ferrets. Plasma ACTH concentrations of sexually intact female ferrets in estrus were significantly higher than those of neutered females.


CONCLUSIONS
Ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism did not have detectable abnormalities in plasma concentrations of ACTH or alpha-MSH. The findings suggest that hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets is an ACTH and alpha-MSH-independent condition.
Schoemaker
Nico J
NJ
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Mol
Jan A
JA
Lumeij
J T
JT
Rijnberk
Ad
A
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000097:blood*; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000097:blood*
D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone