Dexamethasone pharmacokinetics was studied in 10 healthy dogs receiving high-dose administration of dexamethasone (dosage, 0.1 mg/kg of body weight, IV), alone or combined with ACTH dosage, 0.5 U/kg, IV), or low-dose administration of dexamethasone (dosage, 0.01 mg/kg, IV) in an incomplete cross-over design. Serum samples were obtained at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, 480, 720, 1,080, 1,440, 1,920, 2,400, and 2,880 minutes after dexamethasone administration; dexamethasone was measured by radioimmunoassay validated for use in dogs. Dexamethasone pharmacokinetics was adequately described by a two-compartment first-order open model. Comparison of pharmacokinetics for the low- and high-dose protocols revealed dose dependence; area under the curve, mean residence time, clearance, and volume of distribution increased significantly when dexamethasone dosage increased, The elimination rate constant was significantly (P < 0.05) less, and the elimination half-life significantly greater for the high-dose protocols; however, the distribution rate constant and distribution half-life were not significantly different when high-dose protocols were compared with the low-dose protocol. Dose-dependent increases in volume of distribution and clearance may be related to saturation of protein-binding sites. Concurrent administration of ACTH did not affect dexamethasone disposition.

We compared the plasma cortisol and immunoreactive corticotropin (IR-ACTH) responses to incremental doses (1.25, 12.5 and 125 micrograms) of synthetic ACTH (cosyntropin) administered IV to 6 clinically normal cats. Mean plasma cortisol concentration increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after administration of all 3 doses of cosyntropin. After administration of the 1.25- and 12.5-microgram doses, plasma cortisol concentration peaked at 30 minutes, then decreased to values not significantly different from baseline concentration by 90 and 120 minutes, respectively. In contrast, after administration of the 125-microgram dose, mean cortisol concentration peaked at 60 minutes and remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher than baseline values at 120 minutes. Compared with the 1.25- and 12.5-microgram doses, administration of the 125-microgram dose of cosyntropin induced significantly (P < 0.05) higher cortisol responses at 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Although individual cat's peak plasma cortisol concentration after administration of the 125-microgram dose was higher than the peak value determined after administration of the 2 lower doses of cosyntropin, these differences were not statistically significant. Mean plasma IR-ACTH concentration increased significantly (P < 0.0001) and reached a maximal value at 30 minutes after administration of all 3 doses of cosyntropin. After administration of the 1.25- and 12.5-microgram doses, plasma IR-ACTH concentration decreased to values not significantly different from baseline concentration by 60 and 120 minutes, respectively, whereas mean IR-ACTH concentration remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher than baseline values 120 minutes after administration of the 125-microgram dose. Mean peak plasma IR-ACTH concentration attained after administration of the 125-microgram dose of cosyntropin was significantly higher than that attained after administration of the 2 lower doses. Peak plasma IR-ACTH concentration attained after administration of the 12.5-microgram dose of cosyntropin was significantly higher than that attained after administration of 1.25 micrograms of cosyntropin. Results of the study indicate that IV administration of cosyntropin at doses ranging from 1.25 to 125 micrograms induces similar peak plasma cortisol responses in clinically normal cats, indicating that all of the doses may maximally stimulate the adrenal cortex. Administration of the higher cosyntropin doses did, however, result in more prolonged adrenocortical response.

In 6 cats, mean +/- SEM baseline plasma concentrations of cortisol, corticotropin, and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) were 87 +/- 16 nmol/L, 73 +/- 14 ng/L, and 129 +/- 12 ng/L, respectively. The cats were subjected to: handling and subsequent skin testing without anesthesia; anesthesia with 50 mg of ketamine HCl and 2.5 mg of diazepam given IV, immediately followed by handling and skin testing; and anesthesia and handling as previously described, but without skin testing. Significant (P < 0.05; multivariate analysis for repeated measures) increase in plasma cortisol, corticotropin, and alpha-MSH concentrations was observed until 20 minutes after the start of the experiments in cats undergoing physical restraint and subsequent skin testing with or without preceding anesthesia. These responses were largely abolished when anesthesia with ketamine and diazepam was only followed by handling. We conclude that, during stress in cats (in contrast to dogs), the pituitary intermediate lobe is activated to secrete alpha-MSH. In addition, the cortisol response after skin testing of cats under anesthesia may be a reasonable explanation for the reported weak skin test reactivity in cats.