Secretion of sex hormones in dogs with adrenal dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate adrenal sex hormone concentrations in response to ACTH stimulation in healthy dogs, dogs with adrenal tumors, and dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
11 healthy control dogs, 9 dogs with adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (adenocarcinoma [ACA] or other tumor); 11 dogs with PDH, and 6 dogs with noncortisol-secreting adrenal tumors (ATs).


METHODS
Hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs; physical examination findings; and results of ACTH stimulation test, low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, or both. Dogs with noncortisol-secreting ATs did not have hyperadrenocorticism but had ultrasonographic evidence of an AT. Concentrations of cortisol, androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were measured before and 1 hour after i.m. administration of 0.25 mg of synthetic ACTH.


RESULTS
All dogs with ACA, 10 dogs with PDH, and 4 dogs with ATs had 1 or more sex hormone concentrations greater than the reference range after ACTH stimulation. The absolute difference for progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and testosterone concentrations (value obtained after ACTH administration minus value obtained before ACTH administration) was significantly greater for dogs with ACA, compared with the other 3 groups. The absolute difference for androstenedione was significantly greater for dogs with ACA, compared with dogs with AT and healthy control dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs with ACA secrete increased concentrations of adrenal sex hormones, compared with dogs with PDH, noncortisol-secreting ATs, and healthy dogs. Dogs with noncortisol-secreting ATs also have increased concentrations of sex hormones. There is great interdog variability in sex hormone concentrations in dogs with ACA after stimulation with ACTH.
Hill
Kate E
KE
Department of Small Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN 47909, USA.
Scott-Moncrieff
J Catharine R
JC
Koshko
Mark A
MA
Glickman
Lawrence T
LT
Glickman
Nita W
NW
Nelson
Richard W
RW
Blevins
William E
WE
Oliver
Jack W
JW
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone