The effect of two synthetic steroids on plasma glucose concentration and total entry rate of glucose in sheep

Abstract

SummaryPrimed continuous intravenous infusions of tracer amounts of [2·3H]gluscose were used to measure glucose entry rates before and after the administration of triamcinolone acetonide or trienbolone acetate to sheep eating 1200 g/day of chopped hay.The intramuscular injection of triamcinolone acetonide caused hyperglycaemia with a maximum plasma glucose concentration 24 h after the injection. Twenty-four hours after the injection of 0·5 mg/kg of steroid the mean glucose entry rate rose from 1·44 to 2·14 mg/min/kg. The difference between these means is significant (P < 0·02). Twenty-four hours after injecting 0·05 mg/kg of steroid the mean glucose entry rate had risen from 1·34 to 1·86 mg/min/kg. The difference between these means is significant (P < 0·05). The intramuscular injection of trienbolone acetate (0·5 mg/kg) had no effect on plasma glucose concentration or on glucose entry rate.These results are compared with the effect of betamethasone and are discussed in relation to the treatment of ketosis in cattle and sheep.