I have been in correspondence with Dr. Jerry Murray who didn't have time
to write, but we wanted to make sure that the ferret community realizes
that when the existing research is taken together we have a PROVEN cause
of adrenal disease.
 
Dr. Murray writes and gives me permission to send along:
"Yes I would say it is a fact now that LH is over stimulating the
adrenal glands and that causes the adrenal glands to go wild!  Plus
spay/neuter and long day photoperiods increase the LH levels.  I'll
be going over the pathogenesis in Toronto!  "
 
Yes, after all of these years it is no longer just a hypothesis.  The
gaps have been filled.  Things which cause a persistent increase in
the production of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) do cause adrenal disease.
Some factors which are involved are neutering and too little complete
darkness (which equals too little melatonin).
 
For those who want to learn more Dr. Murray will be going over the
pathogenesis in the Canadian IFC Ferret Aid Symposium in just two
months:
 
http://www.ferretaid.org/events/ferret_aid_2006.html
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
 
There is also some on-going work which may show whether there is a
genetic component for some cases.
 
It seemed like it would be a joy for people to know that another very
long term goal for improving ferret health has been achieved, and that
this knowledge will help improve approaches to adrenal disease in
ferrets.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my
private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love
them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5213]