title: Evaluation of pulsatile plasma concentrations of growth hormone in healthy dogs and dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in healthy dogs and large-breed dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  8 dogs with DCM and 8 healthy control dogs of comparable age and body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples for determination of the pulsatile plasma GH profile were collected from all dogs at 10-minute intervals between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Plasma IGF-I concentration was determined in the blood sample collected at 8:00 am.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in plasma IGF-I concentrations, basal plasma GH concentration, GH pulse frequency, area under the curve above the zero line and above the baseline for GH, and GH pulse amplitude were found between dogs with DCM and control dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results did not provide evidence for an association between DCM in dogs and a reduction in plasma concentrations of GH or IGF-I. Therefore, reported positive effects of GH administration are most likely attributable to local effects in the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. N.J.Beijerink@uu.nl
authors.forename: Niek J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Beijerink
authors.forename: Wei M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Arnold A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Stokhof
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Voorhout
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: Hans S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kooistra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone