Concentração sérica de insulina em cães apresentando hipoadrenocorticismo / Insulin concentration in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism

Research in Veterinary Science

Volume 93, Issue 1, August 2012, Pages 97–99

Insulin concentrations in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism

• A.G. Gow^a, , , 
• D.J. Gow^b, 1, 
• R. Bell^b, 
• H. Evans^c, 
• R.J. Mellanby^a

• ^a Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, Division of Clinical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Hospital for Small Animals, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
• ^b Division of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
• ^c Cambridge Specialist Laboratory Services Ltd., P.O. Box 967, Stapleford, Cambridge CB2 5XY, UK

Abstract

Hypoglycaemia is frequently identified in canine cases of hypoadrenocorticism. Potassium and glucose cellular uptake are intimately linked by insulin. We hypothesized that in canine hypoadrenocorticism, hyperkalaemia would stimulate insulin release as a protective mechanism, translocating potassium from the extracellular compartment to the intracellular compartment and also lower glucose concentrations. Serum insulin concentrations were measured in 11 consecutive cases of canine hypoadrenocorticism which were hyperkalaemic and 33 dogs with non-adrenal illness. There was no significant difference between insulin concentrations in the two populations, and no correlation between insulin and potassium concentration in the hypoadrenal group. Thus, no support for the hypothesis was found, although multiple other factors such as pH and osmolality may be obscuring an effect.

Keywords

• Canine; 
• Insulin; 
• Potassium; 
• Hyperkalaemia; 
• Hypoadrenocorticism

• Signalment	Glucose/mmol/L	Potassium/mmol/L	Insulin/μIU/mL (ref. range 4.4-17.6)
  English springer spaniel, 5years 5month, IM[low *]	3.8	6.3a	3.8b
  Labrador 5years 3month, NF[low *]	5.4	6.8a	2.6b
  Labradoodle 1years 1month IM[low *]	4.0	7.7a	7.1
  Collie-cross, 1years 8month, NF[dagger]	4.8	6.85a	33a
  St. Bernard, 1years 9month, IM[low *]	5.1a	6.4a	8.5
  Chihuahua, 7years 2month, NF[low *]	4.9	8.8a	<2.0b
  Standard poodle, 2years, IF[dagger]	7.4a	6.24a	2.9b
  Cocker spaniel, 7years, NF[dagger]	4.67	10a	27a
  German short-haired pointer, 6years, NM[dagger]	2.9b	8a	<2.0b
  Border collie, 6years, NM[low *]	4.7	7.8a	8.6
  English springer spaniel, 2years 6month, IF[low *]	4.9	6.9a	3.5b
  (b) Below reference range.