Overview

• Major glucocorticoid regulated by ACTH and secreted by the adrenal cortex.
• Adrenal gland disease (hyperplasia and neoplasia) in neutered rabbits is characterized by an increase in testosterone, not an increase in cortisol levels.
• Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is not reported in pet rabbits.
• ACTH stimulation test not clinically used in rabbits.

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• Radioimmunoassay (RIA).
• Fluorometric.
• Chemiluminescence (Immulite).

Availability

• Not widely used in rabbits.
• Limited commercial availability.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Fecteau K A et al (2007) Diagnostic endocrinology: blood steroid concentrations in neutered male and female rabbits. J Exot Pet Med 16 (4), 256-259 VetMedResource.
• Lennox A M & Chitty J (2006) Adrenal neoplasia and hyperplasia as a cause of hypertestosteronism in two rabbits. J Exot Pet Med 15 (1), 56-58 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Lennox A M & Fecteau K A (2014) Endocrine Disease. In: Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. BSAVA. pp 274-276.
• Wesche P (2014) Clinical Pathology. In: Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. BSAVA. pp 124-137.
• Saunders R A & Rees Davies R (2005) Differential Diagnosis. In: Notes on Rabbit Internal Medicine. Blackwell Publishing, UK. pp 1-68.