The use of adrenocorticotrophic hormone as a potential biomarker of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses.
Elevated concentrations of plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in horses with pituitary disturbances are often associated with dysfunction of the pituitary's pars intermedia. The majority of such animals exhibit an increased susceptibility to laminitis, particularly during the autumn. The 24h plasma ACTH profiles of horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and those of matched controls, were determined in March, June, September and December. Differences in ACTH concentrations between the groups were significant (P<0.0001), regardless of photoperiod, and persisted throughout the 24h cycle in all seasons. ACTH concentrations were significantly higher in September and December than in March and June in both groups of animals. Cosinor analysis of the data indicated that the amplitude of changes was season-independent but higher (P=0.0441) in PPID horses and that a significant interaction (P=0.0096) existed between body condition (control versus PPID) and season of peak ACTH response. There were significant, but opposite, phase-shift differences in June and September. These results suggest that ACTH has a role as a biomarker of equine PPID providing that appropriate 'cut-off' values are used at different times of the year.
Pegasus Equine Diagnostics Ltd., BioCity Nottingham, Nottingham NG1 1GF, UK.
Zuo-Yen
ZY
Lee
Robert
R
Zylstra
Susan J A
SJ
Haritou
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D052716:Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012621:Seasons
D015415:Biomarkers; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone