Short-term induced hyperinsulinemia and dexamethasone challenge do not affect circulating total adiponectin concentrations in insulin-sensitive ponies

Background: Hypoadiponectinemia is a risk factor for endocrinopathic laminitis, but the directionality and nature of its association with insulin dysregulation is unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of short-term induced hyperinsulinemia and dexamethasone challenge on circulating [total adiponectin] and whole blood expression of adiponectin (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors in insulin-sensitive ponies.

Study design: Experimental study.

Methods: Six never-laminitic, insulin-sensitive, native-breed UK ponies first underwent a dexamethasone challenge (0.08 mg/kg i.v.) with blood samples collected every 15 min over 3 h. After a 14-day washout period, hyperinsulinemia was induced for 9 h via a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC), with blood samples collected every 30 min. Serum [insulin], plasma [total adiponectin], and plasma [IGF-1] were measured using validated assays and receptor gene expression was assessed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Finally, whole blood was incubated with 10–1000 ng/mL dexamethasone for 3 h at 37°C to investigate its direct effects on gene expression.

Results: There were no adverse effects observed during either protocol. Dexamethasone challenge did not alter circulating [insulin] or [total adiponectin] at any time-point, but significantly upregulated AdipoR1 and IGF-1R expression at 150 and 180 min. Ex vivo incubation of whole blood with dexamethasone did not alter expression of the genes examined. There was no change in [total adiponectin] or expression of the genes examined associated with EHC-induced hyperinsulinemia.

Main limitations: This was a small sample size that included only native-breed ponies; total adiponectin was measured rather than high-molecular-weight adiponectin.

Conclusions: Short-term induced hyperinsulinemia and dexamethasone challenge did not affect circulating [total adiponectin] in insulin-sensitive ponies. However, dexamethasone administration was associated with upregulation of two receptors linked to adiponectin signalling, suggesting that a physiological response occurred possibly to counteract dexamethasone-associated changes in tissue insulin sensitivity.