title: The role of luteinizing hormone in the pathogenesis of hyperadrenocorticism in neutered ferrets.
abstract: Four studies were performed to test the hypothesis that gonadotrophic hormones, and particularly luteinizing hormone (LH) play a role in the pathogenesis of ferrets: (I) adrenal glands of ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism were studied immunohistochemically to detect LH-receptors (LH-R); (II) gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests were performed in 10 neutered ferrets, with measurement of androstenedione, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol as endpoints; (III) GnRH stimulation tests were performed in 15 ferrets of which 8 had hyperadrenocorticism, via puncture of the vena cava under anesthesia; and (IV) urinary corticoid/creatinine (C/C) ratios were measured at 2-week intervals for 1 year in the same ferrets as used in study II. Clear cells in hyperplastic or neoplastic adrenal glands of hyperadrenocorticoid ferrets stained positive with the LH-R antibody. Plasma androstenedione and 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations increased after stimulation with GnRH in 7 out of 8 hyperadrenocorticoid ferrets but in only 1 out of 7 healthy ferrets. Hyperadrenocorticoid ferrets had elevated urinary C/C ratios during the breeding season. The observations support the hypothesis that gonadotrophic hormones play a role in the pathogenesis of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets. This condition may be defined as a disease resulting from the expression of LH-R on sex steroid-producing adrenocortical cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. n.j.schoemaker@vet.uu.nl
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Schoemaker
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Teerds
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lumeij
authors.forename: J H H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rijnberk
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000652:urine; D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000502:physiology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011974:Receptors, LH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone