| Adrenal
function was assessed by a combined dexamethasone suppression-ACTH stimulation
test in 18 healthy cats, 17 diabetic cats, and 19 sick nondiabetic cats.
In all groups, plasma cortisol concentrations decreased after dexamethasone
was administered and increased after ACTH was administered. There were
no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences among groups in time
trend changes in cortisol concentration. There was considerable variation
in adrenal response between cats in each group. Diabetic cats had more
variation in base-line and postdexamethasone plasma cortisol concentrations
(P less than 0.05) than did other groups. In sick, nondiabetic cats, cortisol
concentrations tended to be higher in cats with hyperthyroidism (P = 0.06)
than in cats with other diseases. |