Effects of an intravenous endotoxin challenge on glucose and insulin dynamics in horses.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of endotoxin administered IV on glucose and insulin dynamics in horses. ANIMALS: 16 healthy adult mares. PROCEDURES: Each week of a 2-week randomized crossover study, each horse received an IV injection (duration, 30 minutes) of Escherichia coli O55:B5 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in 60 mL of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20 ng/kg) or sterile saline solution alone (control treatment). Frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test procedures were performed at 24 hours before (baseline) and 24 and 48 hours after injection; glucose and insulin dynamics were assessed via minimal model analysis. RESULTS: 13 of 16 horses had a clinical response to LPS, which wa..