Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Daytime cortisol and ACTH changes in dogs with Cushing's
By Castillo, V A et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2009·Hospital Escuela de Med Veterinaria·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diurnal ACTH and plasma cortisol variations in healthy dogs and in those with pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome before and after treatment with retinoic acid.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome (a condition causing excessive cortisol production) had their hormone levels measured before and after treatment with retinoic acid. The study found that healthy dogs showed normal variations in their hormone levels throughout the day, while dogs with Cushing's had lower levels of ACTH (a hormone that stimulates cortisol production) in the morning. After treatment, some hormone levels improved, indicating that retinoic acid may help manage this condition. If your dog has been diagnosed with Cushing's, discussing treatment options like retinoic acid with your vet could be beneficial.
People also search for: dog Cushing's syndrome treatment · retinoic acid for dogs · dog hormone levels morning variations
Abstract
Daytime variations in ACTH and plasma cortisol were studied in healthy dogs and in dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH), before and after treatment with retinoic acid. In control dogs ACTH showed a higher concentration at 8.00 AM and between 2.00 and 6.00 PM, with the lowest concentration registered at 10.00 AM (p<0.05 vs. 8.00 AM and 2.00 PM and p<0.01 vs. 4.00 PM). Cortisol did not show significant differences. In dogs with PDH, ACTH was lower at 8.00 AM (ACTH: p<0.01 vs. 2.00 and 4.00 PM; and p<0.05 vs. 6.00 PM). The lowest cortisol concentration was registered at 8.00 AM and 8.00 PM and the highest at 4.00 PM (p<0.05 vs. 8.00 AM and p<0.01 vs. 8.00 PM). After treatment, the lowest ACTH concentration was registered at 10.00 AM (p<0.01 vs. 2.00 and 4.00 PM). To conclude, the adrenal is desensitized in PDH possibly showing negative in diagnostic tests.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18692856/