1 research outputs found
Evaluation and Diagnostic Potential of Serum Ghrelin in Feline Hypersomatotropism and Diabetes Mellitus
BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a growth hormone secretagogue. It is a potent regulator of energy homeostasis. Ghrelin concentration is downâregulated in humans with hypersomatotropism (HS) and increases after successful treatment. Additionally, ghrelin secretion seems impaired in human diabetes mellitus (DM). HYPOTHESIS: Serum ghrelin concentration is downâregulated in cats with HSâinduced DM (HSDM) compared to healthy control cats or cats with DM unrelated to HS and increases after radiotherapy. ANIMALS: Cats with DM (n = 20) and with HSDM (n = 32), 13 of which underwent radiotherapy (RTâgroup); ageâmatched controls (n = 20). METHODS: Retrospective crossâsectional study. Analytical performance of a serum total ghrelin ELISA was assessed and validated for use in cats. Differences in serum ghrelin, fructosamine, IGFâ1 and insulin were evaluated. RESULTS: Ghrelin was significantly higher (P < .001) in control cats (mean ± SD: 12.9 ± 6.8 ng/mL) compared to HSDMâ (7.9 ± 3.3 ng/mL) and DMâcats (6.7 ± 2.3 ng/mL), although not different between the HSDMâ and DMâcats. After RT ghrelin increased significantly (P = .003) in HSDMâcats undergoing RT (from 6.6 ± 1.9 ng/mL to 9.0 ± 2.2 ng/mL) and the after RT ghrelin concentrations of HSDM cats were no longer significantly different from the serum ghrelin concentration of control cats. Serum IGFâ1 did not significantly change in HSDMâcats after RT, despite significant decreases in fructosamine and insulin dose. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Ghrelin appears suppressed in cats with DM and HSDM, although increases after RT in HSDM, suggesting possible presence of a direct or indirect negative feedback system between growth hormone and ghrelin. Serum ghrelin might therefore represent a marker of treatment effect