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]