ACTH suppression and adverse effects of cabergoline in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction

IF 1.1 4区农林科学 Q3 VETERINARY SCIENCES

Equine Veterinary Education Pub Date : 2026-08-05 Epub Date: 2026-03-27 DOI:10.1111/eve.70091

A. Bracken, H. Tyra, M. Vetter, K. Kiger, S. Rao, L. Bass

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

The diagnosis and management of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses includes evaluating abnormal plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Treatment commonly includes the oral dopamine agonist pergolide mesylate, which suppresses the pathologic overproduction of ACTH. Cabergoline is a commercially available long-acting injectable dopamine agonist that may provide an alternative means of treating horses with PPID by producing similar effects on plasma ACTH concentrations.

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of intramuscular cabergoline administration on plasma ACTH concentrations in horses with PPID.

Study design

Randomised controlled trial.

Methods

Twelve adult horses with PPID were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment group was administered a 0.01 mg/kg bwt dose of intramuscular cabergoline twice, 2 weeks apart. Control horses received an intramuscular injection of sterile saline at the same time points. Horses were monitored for adverse effects. Blood samples were collected for endogenous ACTH concentration monitoring at serial time points and compared using a linear mixed regression model.

Results

Horses in the treatment group had a reduction in plasma ACTH concentration from a mean of 153.35 pg/mL to 24.117 pg/mL following the initial administration of cabergoline. Their ACTH levels remained within the seasonally appropriate range until 12 days after the second cabergoline injection. Horses in the control group never achieved normal ACTH concentrations. The treated horses showed appetite suppression immediately following cabergoline administration, but no significant weight loss when compared to the control horses.

Main limitations

The study group was small, and data collection overlapped with the natural autumnal rise in ACTH, which complicated interpretation of the results.

Conclusions

Injectable cabergoline appeared effective in reducing plasma ACTH concentrations in the PPID horses to seasonally appropriate ranges. There appeared to be a transient reduction in appetite following cabergoline injection, but not a significant loss of weight in comparison with control horses.

查看原文本刊更多论文

卡麦角林对垂体中叶功能障碍马ACTH抑制及不良反应

马垂体中叶功能障碍（PPID）的诊断和治疗包括评估血浆促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的异常浓度。治疗通常包括口服多巴胺激动剂甲磺酸培高利特，它可以抑制ACTH的病理性过度产生。卡麦角林是一种市售的长效注射多巴胺激动剂，可以通过对血浆ACTH浓度产生类似的作用，为治疗PPID的马提供另一种方法。目的探讨肌注卡麦角林对PPID马血浆ACTH浓度的影响。研究设计：随机对照试验。方法12匹PPID成年马随机分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组小鼠给予0.01 mg/kg bwt的卡麦角林肌注2次，间隔2周。对照马在同一时间点肌肉注射无菌生理盐水。对马进行了不良反应监测。采集血样，在连续时间点监测内源性ACTH浓度，并采用线性混合回归模型进行比较。结果治疗组马在首次给药卡麦角林后，血浆ACTH浓度由平均153.35 pg/mL降至24.117 pg/mL。第二次卡麦角林注射后12天，ACTH水平保持在适宜的季节范围内。对照组的马从未达到正常的ACTH浓度。卡麦角林治疗组的马在服用卡麦角林后立即表现出食欲抑制，但与对照马相比，体重没有明显下降。该研究小组规模小，数据收集与ACTH自然秋季上升重叠，这使得结果的解释变得复杂。结论注射卡麦角林可有效降低PPID马的血浆ACTH浓度至季节性适宜范围。卡麦角林注射后似乎有短暂的食欲下降，但与对照马相比体重没有明显下降。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Equine Veterinary Education 农林科学-兽医学

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

22.20%

发文量

132

审稿时长

18-36 weeks

期刊介绍： Equine Veterinary Education (EVE) is the official journal of post-graduate education of both the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Equine Veterinary Education is a monthly, peer-reviewed, subscription-based journal, integrating clinical research papers, review articles and case reports from international sources, covering all aspects of medicine and surgery relating to equids. These papers facilitate the dissemination and implementation of new ideas and techniques relating to clinical veterinary practice, with the ultimate aim of promoting best practice. New developments are placed in perspective, encompassing new concepts and peer commentary. The target audience is veterinarians primarily engaged in the practise of equine medicine and surgery. The educational value of a submitted article is one of the most important criteria that are assessed when deciding whether to accept it for publication. Articles do not necessarily need to contain original or novel information but we welcome submission of this material. The educational value of an article may relate to articles published with it (e.g. a Case Report may not have direct educational value but an associated Clinical Commentary or Review Article published alongside it will enhance the educational value).