Premium
Normal function of the hypothalamic‐pituitary growth axis in three dwarf Friesian foals
Author(s) -
GraafRoelfsema E.,
Back W.,
Stout T. A. E.,
Kolk J. H.,
Keizer H. A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.165.13.373
Subject(s) - biology , growth hormone , function (biology) , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , microbiology and biotechnology
Serial blood samples were collected from three dwarfFriesian foals to examine their endogenous growthhormone (GH) profiles, and the integrity of theGH‐insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) axis wastested in one of them by examining its responses tothe administration of GH‐releasing hormone (GHRH)and to 10 days of treatment with recombinant equineGH. The basal serum concentrations of IGF‐1 inthe three dwarf foals were compared with those innine age‐matched normal foals. All the dwarf foalssecreted endogenous GH. Stimulation with 7·0 μg/kgGHRH led to a 1400 per cent increase in plasma GHconcentration in the dwarf foal tested, and 10 dailysubcutaneous treatments with 20 μg/kg recombinantequine GH led to a 100 per cent increase in its serumIGF‐1 concentration. The basal serum concentrationsof IGF‐1 in the dwarf foals were not significantlydifferent from those of the normal foals.