Clinical and endocrine responses to treatment with deslorelin acetate implants in ferrets with adrenocortical disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and endocrine responses of ferrets with adrenocortical disease (ACD) to treatment with a slow-release implant of deslorelin acetate.


METHODS
15 ferrets with ACD.


METHODS
Ferrets were treated SC with a single slow-release, 3-mg implant of deslorelin acetate. Plasma estradiol, androstenedione, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations were measured before and after treatment and at relapse of clinical signs; at that time, the adrenal glands were grossly or ultrasonographically measured and affected glands that were surgically removed were examined histologically.


RESULTS
Compared with findings before deslorelin treatment, vulvar swelling, pruritus, sexual behaviors, and aggression were significantly decreased or eliminated within 14 days of implantation; hair regrowth was evident 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. Within 1 month of treatment, plasma hormone concentrations significantly decreased and remained decreased until clinical relapse. Mean time to recurrence of clinical signs was 13.7 +/- 3.5 months (range, 8.5 to 20.5 months). In 5 ferrets, large palpable tumors developed within 2 months of clinical relapse; 3 of these ferrets were euthanatized because of adrenal gland tumor metastasis to the liver or tumor necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In ferrets with ACD, a slow-release deslorelin implant appears promising as a treatment to temporarily eliminate clinical signs and decrease plasma steroid hormone concentrations. Deslorelin may not decrease adrenal tumor growth in some treated ferrets. Deslorelin implants may be useful in the long-term management of hormone-induced sequelae in ferrets with ACD and in treatment of animals that are considered at surgical or anesthetic risk.
Wagner
Robert A
RA
Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, 3500 Terrace St, S1049 BST, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Piché
Claude A
CA
Jöchle
Wolfgang
W
Oliver
Jack W
JW
D000303:Adrenal Cortex Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004343:Drug Implants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; C066438:deslorelin