(E32) Abnormal Incretin Concentration in Equine Colic

Abstract:

Background: Colic remains the most prevalent and challenging disease in horses. Increased mortality in horses with gastrointestinal disease has been associated with insulin resistance and glucose dysregulation. Dysfunction of the enteroinsular axis (EA), characterized by abnormal concentrations of insulin-regulating incretins, may contribute to insulin dysregulation, disease progression, and poor outcome in equine colic.
Hypothesis/Objectives. We hypothesized that the concentration of incretins glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) would be decreased in horses presented for colic when compared to healthy and associated with non-survival.
Animals: 10 healthy horses and 19 horses with colic (>1-year-old)

Methods: Incretin concentrations were determined in all horses on admission and at 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h of hospitalization in this prospective, longitudinal study. Plasma concentration of incretins was measured with ELISA kits previously validated for horses.

Results: In healthy horses, GIP concentration increased at 48h, 72h and 96h compared to baseline (P< 0.01). At 24h, GIP concentration was lower in horses with colic compared to healthy (P< 0.05). There were no differences in GLP-1 and GLP-2 concentration between time points and group of horses (P>0.05). GLP-1 concentration was lower in non-survivors compared to survivors on admission (P< 0.05). There were no differences in GIP and GLP-2 between survivors and non-survivors (P>0.05).
Conclusions and clinical importance: The EA dysfunction was characterized by decreased concentration of GIP in horses with colic during the first 24h of hospitalization. GLP-1 may be used as a prognosticating factor in horses presented with gastrointestinal disease.