Normal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary growth axis in three dwarf Friesian foals

Vet Rec. 2009 Sep 26;165(13):373-6. doi: 10.1136/vr.165.13.373.

Abstract

Serial blood samples were collected from three dwarf Friesian foals to examine their endogenous growth hormone (GH) profiles, and the integrity of the GH-insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis was tested in one of them by examining its responses to the administration of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and to 10 days of treatment with recombinant equine GH. The basal serum concentrations of IGF-1 in the three dwarf foals were compared with those in nine age-matched normal foals. All the dwarf foals secreted endogenous GH. Stimulation with 7.0 microg/kg GHRH led to a 1400 per cent increase in plasma GH concentration in the dwarf foal tested, and 10 daily subcutaneous treatments with 20 microg/kg recombinant equine GH led to a 100 per cent increase in its serum IGF-1 concentration. The basal serum concentrations of IGF-1 in the dwarf foals were not significantly different from those of the normal foals.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dwarfism / metabolism
  • Dwarfism / pathology
  • Dwarfism / veterinary*
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / metabolism*
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / pathology