2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Cortisol, progesterone, pregnenolone, aldosterone, DHEA, and 17 a-OH-progesterone were higher in septic compared to healthy foals, at Time 0 (P < 0.01). In septic foals at Time 0, DHEA and cortisol were also significantly higher than in SNS foals (P < 0.05). Cortisol and DHEA were elevated and 17 a-OH-progesterone lower in septic compared to healthy foals at 72 hour (P < 0.05). At Times 24 and 72 hour, cortisol concentrations increased by 44% and 51% in non-surviving foals but decreased by 63% (À63%) and 204% (À204%) in surviving foals, respectively. Critically ill neonatal foals had an appropriate response to sepsis associated stress characterized by increased concentrations of steroids, steroid precursors and neurosteroids on admission. Decreased steroid concentrations in all groups can be attributed to adrenal dysfunction (septic foals) as well as physiological postnatal steroidogenesis (healthy foals). Persistently increased cortisol concentration was associated with non-survival in septic foals. Insulin status is assessed in horses by performing an oral sugar test (OST) and incretin hormones and adipokines can also be measured to investigate mechanisms of hyperinsulinemia. However, the repeatability of these measures has not been determined. We therefore hypothesized that glucose, insulin, active (aGLP-1) and total glucagon-like peptide 1 (tGLP-1), and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin results from oral sugar teats would be repeatable, as defined by a within-horse coefficient of variation (CV) <20%.