Effects of delmadinone acetate on pituitary‐adrenal function, glucose tolerance and growth hormone in male dogs

Objective To characterise the effects of delmadinone acetate on the pituitary‐adrenal axis, glucose tolerance and growth hormone concentration in normal male dogs and dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Design A prospective study involving nine normal male dogs and seven with prostatic hyperplasia. Procedure Delmadinone acetate was administered to six normal male dogs and seven dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia at recommended dose rates (1.5 mg/kg subcuta‐neously at 0, 1 and 4 weeks). Three normal controls received saline at the same intervals. Blood concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, glucose, insulin and growth hormone were measured over 50 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance and ACTH response tests were performed before and after treatment in the nine normal animals. Results A substantial suppression of basal and 2 h post‐ACTH plasma cortisol secretion was demonstrated after one dose in all dogs given delmadinone acetate. Individual responses after the second and third administration varied between recovery in adrenal responsiveness to continued suppression. Plasma ACTH concentration was also diminished after one treatment. No effects were evident on glucose tolerance or serum growth hormone concentrations. Conclusion Delmadinone acetate causes adrenal suppression from inhibition of release of ACTH from the pituitary gland. Treated dogs may be at risk of developing signs of glucocorticoid insufficiency if subjected to stressful events during or after therapy. Neither glucose intolerance nor hyper‐somatotropism seems likely in male dogs given delmadinone acetate at the recommended dose rate, but the potential for excessive growth hormone secretion in treated bitches remains undetermined.