SERUM OSTEOCALCIN CONCENTRATION IN HORSES TREATED WITH TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE

The effect of triamcinolone acetonide (0.09 mg/kg of body weight, IM) on serum osteocalcin concentration was studied. Two groups of horses w ere investigated and included clinically normal horses (group 1, n = 5 ) and horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (group 2, n = 5). Before treatment, results of a t-test did not reveal any significa nt difference in serum osteocalcin concentration between the 2 groups, After treatment, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum osteocalc in concentration was observed for both groups. Osteocalcin concentrati on in individual horses reached a minimum by 24 to 48 hours after trea tment, In both groups of horses, serum osteocalcin response to glucoco rticoid administration was similar. In 7 of 10 horses, return to pretr eatment values was observed after 28 days. Pretreatment values for the other 3 horses were reached between 62 and 150 days.