Arginine Stimulation Testing in Healthy and Sick Camelids
Anna Firshman, BVSc,PhD
Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine
3 yrs, Second yr $6,599. ARF contributed $4000Hospitalized llamas and alpacas often develop a condition known as fatty liver, which regardless of the severity of the initial problem, often causes their death. Their susceptibility to this condition may be in part due to their unique way of handling blood sugar. Previous studies have shown that these animals have reduced glucose tolerance and sensitivity to insulin compared to other species. This study is evaluating insulin secretion and sensitivity in these animals using a special technique called hyperglycemic (HG) and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic (HE) clamping, which is considered the gold standard for measuring insulin secretion and sensitivity in other species. These researchers hope to gain greater understanding of camelid physiology and to develop effective treatment strategies.