Pilot Study: Serum Concentration Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 In Intact And Spayed Dogs

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been positively associated with body size and negatively associated with lifespan in dogs. Gonadectomy has been associated with increased lifespan in dogs. Insulin-like growth factor 1 was assayed in serum harvested from 50 intact and 50 spayed female dogs as they were surrendered to a humane organization. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were significantly lower in spayed female dogs than in intact bitches. Overlap in serum IGF-1 concentrations in the groups in this study was too great to permit a single sample to be used to differentiate spayed from intact dogs.