Glucose and cortisol concentrations in cows treated with a slowly-absorbed betamethasone suspension

Authors: Cooper BS, MacDiarmid SC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 31, Issue 1-2, pp 16-19, Jan 1983
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Endocrine/autocrine/paracrine, Metabolic disease, Disease/defect, Energy, Nervous system/neurology, Parturition, Parturition - induced, Pharmacology, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Reproduction - hormones
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: A slowly-absorbed aqueous suspension of betamethasone, intended for use in the induction`of parturition, was administered to 10 cows. Each cow received 2ml (mean individual dose, 44.4 ± 0.5µg/kg) by subcutaneous injection. Plasma samples were collected on six occasions over a seven-day period before treatment and on 21 occasions over a 29 day period after treatment. The mean concentration of betamethasone in plasma, as measured by radioimmunoassay, peaked at 0.6ng/ml24 hours after injection and was detectable for four days. Depression of the endogenous cortisol levels, as recorded with other long-acting synthetic glucocorticoids, was observed with this preparation of betamethasone. Plasma glucose was significantly elevated for eight days after betamethasone administration.

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