Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone in Newborn Hospitalized and Healthy Foals
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Date
2020-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Steroidogenesis, a process by which steroid hormones are produced through enzymatic conversion of cholesterol occurs in many endocrine organs, including the adrenal gland, gonads, and placenta. Sex steroids include progestogens, androgens, and estrogens. In the equine fetus, androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are produced in the zona reticularis of the foal's adrenal gland and the equine placenta through the metabolism of steroid precursors. Progesterone, a steroid hormone associated with pregnancy in people and animals, has been associated with disease severity in critically ill foals. However, the relationship between androgens (testosterone, DHT) with disease in neonatal foals has not been evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if androgen concentrations were associated with illness in newborn foals. This information could enhance our understanding of endocrine changes in the newborn foal as well as changes in placental function at the end of pregnancy.
The study included healthy (n=13), sick non-septic (SNS; n=27), and septic (n=23) newborn foals. Septic foals are those with a sepsis score ≥12 and evidence of bacterial infection; SNS foals were those with a sepsis score ≤11 and no evidence of bacterial infection. Blood samples were collected at admission (time 0), 24, 48, and 72 hours, centrifuged, and serum aliquoted and stored in a -80°C until analysis. Hormone concentrations were measured through immunoassays. Clinical, laboratory, and endocrine data were evaluated for normality and analyzed with parametric and non-parametric statistical tests.
In healthy foals, testosterone and DHT concentrations showed a steady decrease over 72 hours. In contrast, septic foals had increased testosterone and DHT concentrations at time 0 compared to healthy foals that remained elevated during hospitalization. Similarly, testosterone and DHT concentrations were higher in foals that died. In SNS foals, androgens followed a similar pattern to healthy foals.
These results indicated that severe infections alter the steroid endocrine balance in sick newborn foals, which was evident by a delayed return of androgens to values similar to healthy foals over time. Our findings have provided additional understanding of diseases affecting the equine neonate.
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Keywords
neonatal foals, healthy, sepsis, androgens