Equine insulin dysregulation is a burgeoning and poorly understood problem associated with high morbidity. Based on the premise that insulin dysregulation originates in the foregut, this innovative project aimed to identify the earliest pathogenic factors of disease by investigating two key hormones: ghrelin and GLP-2; and, whether a specific genetic mutation underlies insulin dysregulation.

Using innovative approaches, the project examined gastrointestinal factors influencing insulin dysregulation, which will enable the identification of at-risk animals and pinpoint novel treatment strategies. Improved disease treatment and prevention will reduce the suffering associated with painful and often lethal co-morbidities.

The data describe a series of in vitro and in vivo studies that examined enteroinsular responses to carbohydrates. Specifically, the studies measured the secretion of the peptide GLP-2, as well as the location and reactivity of enteroendocrine cells in the equine small intestine.