Vet Pathol Download to Citation Manager
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Meij, B. P.
Right arrow Articles by Rijnberk, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Meij, B. P.
Right arrow Articles by Rijnberk, A.
Vet Pathol 42:92-97 (2005)
© 2005 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND CASE REPORTS

Melanotroph Pituitary Adenoma in a Cat with Diabetes Mellitus

B. P. Meij, R. H. van der Vlugt-Meijer, T. S. G. A. M. van den Ingh, G. Flik and A. Rijnberk

Abstract

A 13-year-old male, castrated, crossbred cat was referred for insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. The cat had a ravenous appetite and a dull coat. Basal urinary corticoid/creatinine ratios were normal. In the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test there was no suppression of the (nonelevated) plasma cortisol concentration, whereas the (nonelevated) plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration declined to low values. Basal plasma {alpha}-melanocyte–stimulating hormone ({alpha}-MSH) concentrations were highly elevated (> 1,500 ng/liter). Computed tomography revealed a pituitary tumor originating from the pars intermedia (PI). After microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, the clinical signs resolved and the cat no longer required insulin administration. Microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed a pituitary adenoma originating from the PI with infiltration into the neural lobe. The adenoma immunostained intensely positive for {alpha}-MSH and only weakly for ACTH. It is concluded that the ACTH-independent cortisol production was probably due to the (weak) glucocorticorticotropic effects of the extremely high plasma concentration of {alpha}-MSH and related peptides.

Key words: Adenoma; cats; diabetes mellitus; hypophysectomy; melanotroph; pituitary.

Request reprints from Dr. B. P. Meij, Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.154, NL-3508 TD Utrecht (The Netherlands). E-mail: b.p.meij{at}vet.uu.nl






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.