What is ACTH?
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland.
The term endogenous simply refers to the ACTH that is produced by the dog itself (as opposed to synthetic ACTH which is used for diagnostic testing purposes).
ACTH regulates the production of cortisol (a stress hormone) by the adrenal glands and its concentration can be measured in the blood.
An increased blood cortisol level will, in turn, reduce the amount of ACTH being secreted by the pituitary in a negative feedback system.
What can the measurement of ACTH tell us?
With Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) that is caused by excessive pituitary production of ACTH, an increased concentration of ACTH can be found in the blood.
If Cushing’s disease is due to an adrenal tumour, or when Cushing’s disease is caused by cortisol containing medications, the amount of ACTH in the blood is decreased (due to the negative feedback system described above).
Therefore in some cases of Cushing’s disease, the measurement of endogenous ACTH will allow us to make a distinction between the different types of Cushing’s disease.
Can Cushing’s disease be diagnosed on the basis of endogenous ACTH only?
No.
In health and disease, ACTH is released from the pituitary in an episodic or pulsatile (e.g. up and down) fashion. Therefore the concentrations of ACTH found both in health and with the different types of Cushing’s disease may overlap and not allow a clear differentiation of the cause of the disease.
Additionally, stress may also cause periodic increases in endogenous ACTH concentrations.
Therefore endogenous ACTH values are most useful in the investigation of the type of Cushing’s disease that is present once the Cushing’s syndrome has been confirmed by the use of other laboratory tests.
Based on material written by Kristiina Ruotsalo, DVM, DVSc, Dip ACVP &
Margo S. Tant BSc, DVM, DVSc. and modified with permission from Lifelearn Inc.
© Copyright 2004 Lifelearn Inc.
