Cortisol secretion after adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and Dexamethasone tests in healthy female and male dogs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For the conclusive diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome, a stimulating ACTH test or a low suppressive Dexamethasone test is used. Reports in other species than the dog indicate that plasma cortisol concentration after ACTH administration is affected by gender. We investigated the effect of gender on the cortisol response to ACTH and Dexamethasone tests in dogs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven healthy adult Cocker Spaniels (4 females and 3 males) were assigned to a two by two factorial design: 4 dogs (2 females and 2 males) received IV Dexamethasone 0.01 mg/kg, while the other 3 dogs received an IV saline solution (control group). Two weeks later the treatments were reversed. After one month, ACTH was given IV (250 μg/animal) to 4 dogs (2 female and 2 males) while the rest was treated with saline solution (control group). Cortisol concentrations were determined by a direct solid-phase radioimmunoassay and cholesterol and triglycerides by commercial kits.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>No effect of treatment was observed in metabolite concentrations, but females presented higher cholesterol concentrations. ACTH-treated dogs showed an increase in cortisol levels in the first hour after sampling until 3 hours post injection. Cortisol concentrations in Dexamethasone-treated dogs decreased one hour post injection and remained low for 3 hours, thereafter cortisol concentrations increased. The increase in cortisol levels from one to two hours post ACTH injection was significantly higher in females than males. In Dexamethasone-treated males cortisol levels decreased one hour post injection up to 3 hours; in females the decrease was more pronounced and prolonged, up to 5 hours post injection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have demonstrated that cortisol response to ACTH and Dexamethasone treatment in dogs differs according to sex.</p

Autoantibodies to triiodothyronine and thyroxine in a golden retriever

A golden retriever presented with signs of hypothyroidism occurring in conjunction with autoantibodies to both triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The autoantibodies caused the apparent concentrations of total T3, total T4, and free T4 by analog assay to be high. However, free T4 concentration was nondetectable when measured using a dialysis assay. The dog's clinical condition markedly improved in response to L-thyroxine therapy, and the free T4 concentration by dialysis assay increased into the normal range. Thyroid hormone autoantibodies can confuse the diagnostic evaluation for suspected hypothyroidism. In dogs with autoantibodies to T4, measurement of free T4 by dialysis assay is useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring purposes.</jats:p

Comparison of the effects of diltiazem and aspirin on platelet aggregation in cats

Platelet aggregation in response to collagen (1 or 3 micrograms/ml), arachidonic acid (10(-2) M), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 2 microM) was compared in healthy cats treated with diltiazem (approximately 2 mg/kg body weight, q 8 hrs for 10 doses), aspirin (approximately 21 mg/kg body weight [1 baby aspirin], q 72 hrs for three doses), or a combination of diltiazem and aspirin. Baseline values obtained prior to treatment served as controls. Addition of arachidonic acid to blood resulted in an impedance change (i.e., aggregation) with time in samples from the nontreated cats and the cats treated with diltiazem, but the addition had no effect in blood from cats treated with aspirin alone or with a combination of diltiazem and aspirin. Platelet aggregation in response to either concentration of collagen or to ADP was not altered by any treatment. Secretion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from the platelets was measured when the aggregating agent was 3 micrograms/ml collagen; secretion was not affected by any treatment.</jats:p