title: Insulin concentrations in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.
abstract: Hypoglycaemia is frequently identified in canine cases of hypoadrenocorticism. Potassium and glucose cellular uptake are intimately linked by insulin. We hypothesized that in canine hypoadrenocorticism, hyperkalaemia would stimulate insulin release as a protective mechanism, translocating potassium from the extracellular compartment to the intracellular compartment and also lower glucose concentrations. Serum insulin concentrations were measured in 11 consecutive cases of canine hypoadrenocorticism which were hyperkalaemic and 33 dogs with non-adrenal illness. There was no significant difference between insulin concentrations in the two populations, and no correlation between insulin and potassium concentration in the hypoadrenal group. Thus, no support for the hypothesis was found, although multiple other factors such as pH and osmolality may be obscuring an effect.
authors: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, Division of Clinical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Hospital for Small Animals, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. adam.gow@ed.ac.uk
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Gow
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Gow
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bell
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Evans
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Mellanby