Influence of aging on adrenal responsiveness in a population of eleven healthy beagles

Res Vet Sci. 2007 Apr;82(2):195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.07.010. Epub 2006 Sep 29.

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of aging on the adrenal cortex response of cortisol and aldosterone in dogs. A population of healthy adult Beagles was evaluated twice at a five-year interval. At each evaluation, plasma basal cortisol and aldosterone, cortisol and aldosterone following ACTH-stimulation, sodium, and potassium concentrations and arterial blood pressure were measured. We observed significantly (p<0.05) greater sodium, urea and creatinine concentrations with aging. Nevertheless urea and creatinine remained within our laboratory reference ranges. This study showed a highly significant age-related elevation of basal cortisol (p<0.01). Inversely, both aldosterone following ACTH-stimulation levels and difference between aldosterone following ACTH-stimulation and basal aldosterone values plummeted significantly (p<0.01) with aging. In conclusion, the evaluation of the adrenal cortex function in dogs should take in consideration the age of the individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex / drug effects
  • Adrenal Cortex / physiology*
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / pharmacology
  • Aging / blood
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Aldosterone / blood
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Dogs / blood
  • Dogs / physiology*
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / drug effects
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Potassium / blood
  • Sodium / blood
  • Sodium / pharmacology
  • Urea / blood

Substances

  • Aldosterone
  • Urea
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Sodium
  • Creatinine
  • Potassium
  • Hydrocortisone