{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T05:01:17Z","timestamp":1771477277690,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)","issue":"11","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["javma"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2006,12,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Objective<\/jats:bold>\u2014To evaluate the effect of oral administration of melatonin on clinical signs, tumor size, and serum steroid hormone concentrations in ferrets with adrenocortical disease.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Design<\/jats:bold>\u2014Noncontrolled clinical trial.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Animals<\/jats:bold>\u201410 adult ferrets with clinical signs of adrenocortical disease (confirmed via serum steroid hormone concentration assessments).<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Procedures<\/jats:bold>\u2014Melatonin (0.5 mg) was administered orally to ferrets once daily for 1 year. At 4-month intervals, a complete physical examination; abdominal ultrasonographic examination (including adrenal gland measurement); CBC; serum biochemical analyses; and assessment of serum estradiol, androstenedione, and 17\u03b1-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations were performed. Serum prolactin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations were evaluated at the first, second, and last examinations, and serum cortisol concentration was evaluated at the first and last examinations.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Results<\/jats:bold>\u2014Daily oral administration of melatonin greatly affected clinical signs of adrenocortical disease in ferrets; changes included hair regrowth, decreased pruritus, increased activity level and appetite, and decreased vulva or prostate size. Mean width of the abnormally large adrenal glands was significantly increased after the 12-month treatment period. Recurrence of clinical signs was detected in 6 ferrets at the 8-month evaluation. Compared with pretreatment values, serum 17\u03b1-hydroxyprogesterone and prolactin concentrations were significantly increased and decreased after 12 months, respectively.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions and Clinical Relevance<\/jats:bold>\u2014Results suggest that melatonin is a useful, easily administered, palliative treatment to decrease clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease in ferrets, and positive effects of daily treatment were evident for at least an 8-month period. Oral administration of melatonin did not decrease adrenal gland tumor growth in treated ferrets.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.229.11.1743","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2006,12,4]],"date-time":"2006-12-04T18:32:13Z","timestamp":1165257133000},"page":"1743-1748","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Effects of melatonin administration on the clinical course of adrenocortical disease in domestic ferrets"],"prefix":"10.2460","volume":"229","author":[{"given":"Jan C.","family":"Ramer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Keith G.","family":"Benson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"James K.","family":"Morrisey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robert T.","family":"O'Brien","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joanne","family":"Paul-Murphy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1272","reference":[{"key":"ref1","series-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc","first-page":"1402","article-title":"Neoplastic diseases in ferrets: 574 cases (1968\u20131997)","volume":"212","author":"Li","year":"1998"},{"key":"ref2","series-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc","first-page":"271","article-title":"Hyperadrenocorticism associated with adrenocortical tumor or nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal gland in ferrets: 50 cases (1987\u20131991)","volume":"203","author":"Rosenthal","year":"1993"},{"key":"ref3","series-title":"Am J Vet Res","first-page":"1395","article-title":"Plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with 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