Effect of hypothyroidism on kinetics of metabolism of very-low-density lipoprotein in mares

Diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders and thyroid hormone supplementation in adult horses and foals

Equine thyroid disorders pose a diagnostic challenge in clinical practice because of the effects of nonthyroidal factors on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, and the horse's ability to tolerate wide fluctuations in thyroid hormone concentrations and survive without a thyroid gland. While benign thyroid tumours are common in older horses, other disorders like primary hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in adult horses and congenital hypothyroidism in foals are rare. There is a common misunderstanding regarding hypothyroidism in adult horses, especially when associated with the clinical profile of obesity, lethargy, and poor performance observed in dogs and humans. Low blood thyroid hormone concentrations are often detected in horses as a secondary response to metabolic and disease states, including with the nonthyroidal illness syndrome; however, it is important to note that low thyroid hormone concentrations in these cases do not necessarily indicate hypothyroidism. Assessing equine thyroid function involves measuring thyroid hormone concentrations, including total and free fractions of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3); however, interpreting these results can be challenging due to the pulsatile secretion of thyroid hormones and the many factors that can affect their concentrations. Dynamic testing, such as the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test, can help assess the thyroid gland response to stimulation. Although true hypothyroidism is extremely rare, thyroid hormone supplementation is commonly used in equine practice to help manage obesity and poor performance. This review focuses on thyroid gland pathophysiology in adult horses and foals, interpretation of blood thyroid hormone concentrations, and evaluation of horses with thyroid disorders. It also discusses the use of T4 supplementation in equine practice.

Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a growing concern in horses. The effects of maternal obesity on maternal metabolism and low-grade inflammation during pregnancy, as well as offspring growth, metabolism, low-grade inflammation, testicular maturation and osteochondrotic lesions until 18 months of age were investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-four mares were used and separated into two groups at insemination according to body condition score (BCS): Normal (N, n = 10, BCS ≤4) and Obese (O, n = 14, BCS ≥4.25). BCS and plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, urea, non-esterified fatty acid, serum amyloid A (SAA), leptin and adiponectin concentrations were monitored throughout gestation. At 300 days of gestation, a Frequently Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (FSIGT) was performed. After parturition, foals' weight and size were monitored until 18 months of age with plasma SAA, leptin, adiponectin, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol concentrations measured at regular intervals. At 6, 12 and 18 months of age, FSIGT and osteoarticular examinations were performed. Males were gelded at one year and expression of genes involved in testicular maturation analysed by RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

Throughout the experiment, maternal BCS was higher in O versus N mares. During gestation, plasma urea and adiponectin were decreased and SAA and leptin increased in O versus N mares. O mares were also more insulin resistant than N mares with a higher glucose effectiveness. Postnatally, there was no difference in offspring growth between groups. Nevertheless, plasma SAA concentrations were increased in O versus N foals until 6 months, with O foals being consistently more insulin resistant with a higher glucose effectiveness. At 12 months of age, O foals were significantly more affected by osteochondrosis than N foals. All other parameters were not different between groups.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, maternal obesity altered metabolism and increased low-grade inflammation in both dams and foals. The risk of developing osteochondrosis at 12 months of age was also higher in foals born to obese dams.

Blood lipid concentrations and lipoprotein patterns in captive and wild American black bears (Ursus americanus)

OBJECTIVE

To compare blood lipid concentrations and lipoprotein patterns for captive and wild American black bears (Ursus americanus).

ANIMALS

7 captive and 9 wild adult (> or = 4 years old) black bears.

PROCEDURE

Blood was collected from 2 groups of captive black bears (groups A and B) and 1 group of wild black bears (group C). Blood triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol concentrations were compared among groups. Plasma lipoproteins were isolated by use of a self-generating gradient of iodixanol, and lipoprotein patterns were compared between groups A and B.

RESULTS

Captive bears (mean +/- SD, 187.8 +/- 44.4 kg) weighed significantly more than wild bears (mean, 104.8 +/- 41.4 kg), but mean body weight did not differ between groups A and B. Mean blood TG concentrations for groups B (216.8 +/- 16.0 mg/dL) and C (190.7 +/- 34.0 mg/dL) were significantly higher than that of group A (103.9 +/- 25.3 mg/dL). Mean blood cholesterol concentration was also significantly higher for group B (227.8 +/- 8.2 mg/dL) than for groups A (171.7 +/- 35.5 mg/dL) or C (190.8 +/- 26.8 mg/dL). Mean very-low-density lipoprotein TG and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were 2- and 3-fold higher, respectively, for group B, compared with concentrations for group A.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Blood lipid concentrations vary significantly among populations of black bears. Plasma lipoprotein patterns of captive bears differed significantly between colonies and may have reflected differences in diet or management practices.

Effects of oral administration of levothyroxine sodium on concentrations of plasma lipids, concentration and composition of very-low-density lipoproteins, and glucose dynamics in healthy adult mares

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy adult horses administered levothyroxine sodium (L-T4).

ANIMALS

12 healthy adult mares.

PROCEDURE

8 horses received an incrementally increasing dosage of L-T4 (24, 48, 72, or 96 mg of L-T4/d) for weeks 1 to 8. Each dose was provide between 7 AM and 8 AM in the morning grain meal for 2 weeks. Four additional horses remained untreated. Serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured and composition of VLDL examined in samples obtained between 8 AM and 9 AM at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Glucose dynamics were assessed by use of a combined IV glucose-insulin tolerance test (IVGITT) conducted before and at the end of the 8-week treatment period. Data for each combined IVGITT were interpreted by use of the minimal model.

RESULTS

Plasma TG, TC, and VLDL concentrations significantly decreased over time in treated horses. At the completion of the 8-week treatment period, mean plasma VLDL concentration was 46% of the mean value for week 0 in treated horses. Insulin sensitivity significantly increased (> 2-fold) in treated horses, but glucose effectiveness and net insulin response were not affected. Levothyroxine sodium significantly increased the rate of insulin disposal.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Administration of L-T4 decreases blood lipid concentrations, improves insulin sensitivity, and increases insulin disposal in horses. Levothyroxine sodium may have potential as a treatment for horses with reduced insulin sensitivity.

Effect of hypothyroidism on the blood lipid response to higher dietary fat intake in mares

Blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured and compared between euthyroid and thyroidectomized mares on low-fat or high-fat diets to test the hypothesis that hypothyroidism alters the blood lipid response to higher dietary fat intake. Four healthy adult mares and four adult mares that had been thyroidectomized 3 to 6 mo earlier were placed on low-fat or high-fat diets according to a replicated 2 x 2 Latin square design consisting of two 5-wk feeding periods separated by a 2-wk washout interval. Plasma lipid concentrations were measured at 0, 3, 4, and 5 wk, and plasma lipase activities were measured at the end of each 5-wk feeding period. Compared with euthyroid mares (0.46 ng/mL [range 0.34 to 0.68 ng/mL T3], and 21.5 ng/mL [range 18.1 to 25.1 ng/mL T4], respectively), median serum concentrations of T3 and T4 were lower (P = 0.029 and P = 0.021, respectively) in thyroid-ectomized mares (0.26 ng/mL [range 0.23 to 0.26 ng/ mL T3], and undetectable T4). Serum T4 concentrations were below the limits of detection in thyroidectomized horses. Alterations in body weight over 5 wk did not differ between groups. Mean plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were higher (P = 0.045 and 0.034, respectively) in hypothyroid mares (55.42 +/- 35.05 mg/dL and 52.83 +/- 34.46 mg/dL, respectively) compared with euthyroid mares (28.28 +/- 13.76 mg/dL and 23.53 +/- 9.84 mg/dL, respectively). Mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) concentrations increased from 88.73 +/- 25.49 mg/dL at baseline to 103.93 +/- 24.42 mg/dL after 5 wk on the low-fat diet, but increased by a greater magnitude (P = 0.006 diet +/- time interaction) in mares that were on the high-fat diet (81.05 +/- 17.24 mg/dL and 123.84 +/- 32.27 mg/ dL, respectively). Mean plasma TC concentrations were higher (P = 0.099) in hypothyroid mares (116.16 +/- 32.89 mg/dL) than in euthyroid mares (89.56 +/- 14.45 mg/ dL). Higher post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities (P = 0.012 andP = 0.017, respectively) were detected in mares that were on the high-fat diet (2.66 +/- 0.91 micromol FA x mL(-1) x h(-1) and 2.95 +/- 0.49 micromol FA x mL(-1) x h(-1), respectively) vs. a low-fat diet (1.75 +/- 0.55 micromol FA x mL(-1) x h(-1) and 2.27 +/- 0.59 micromol FA x mL(-1) x h(-1), respectively). We conclude that plasma VLDL and TG concentrations are elevated in hypothyroid mares, but the blood lipid response to higher dietary fat intake is not influenced by hypothyroidism.