Peripheral Plasma Levels of Corticosteroids in Normal Beagles and Greyhounds Measured by a Rapid Competitive Protein Binding Technique

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Abstract
A rapid competitive protein binding method for the measurement of peripheral plasma levels of corticosteroids in dogs was evaluated and applied. The rapid method was found to give a minor overestimation of the Cortisol levels as compared to the method including purification of the plasma extract on Sephadex LH-20 columns. In Beagles and Greyhounds mean peripheral plasma levels of corticosteroids of 25.4 and 18.0 ng/ml were found respectively. No diurnal variation of peripheral plasma levels of corticosteroids was obtained. After the intravenous administration of dexamethasone peripheral plasma levels of corticosteroids were found to decrease to about 20 % of the pretreatment levels. When ACTH was administered i.m. a nearly 10 fold increase of the corticosteroid levels was found 60 to 90 min. after the injections. The rapid method described and evaluated should be of value for diagnosis of adrenal syndrome in the dog.