Remember from 3 decades ago that the Monkees performed a perceptive Neil Diamond song, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You"? Well, I can't get the chorus out of my head today and here is why. In relation to adrenal disease formation the scenario goes like this: Decreased complete darkness results in decreased melatonin production from the pineal gland. Decreased melatonin production (less melatonin circulating) results in more LH and FSH production from the pituitary. Now, if all goes right and if the ferret has reproductive tissue intact the reproductive tissue at some point sends a "Quiet down." signal to the pituitary. (It appears that all doesn't always go right even with whole ferrets, given how about half of whole unbred females go on to develop marrow toxicity.) Okay, so what about when the ferret has been neutered? Well, the adrenals (which also contain hormone generating tissue) can't tell the pituitary to quiet down and keep being stimulated by it. Now, here is where this becomes a little bit me, a little bit you for several of us here: The melatonin reduction (from too little darkness) plays a major role setting things in motion BUT THIS IS NOT A DIRECT CAUSE OF THE TUMORS BUT OF THEIR TRIGGER(S). The pituitary plays a major role in the hormones it secretes BUT THERE IS NOT PITUITARY DISEASE BECAUSE THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR THAT GLAND. Neutering plays a major role by preventing feedback to stop the LH and FSH over production BUT IT IS NOT JUST EARLY NEUTERING BECAUSE IT IS NEUTERING AT ANY AGE. What is important is the *combination*, and there may be other factors which research will show to play roles as well. Of course, ultimately what really made the difference is that there were multiple excellent researchers who were able to pursue the concepts with well designed and careful scientific studies. Now a word: here we are with one of the most wonderful additions to ferret veterinary knowledge that we could have and instead of publicly rejoicing -- which we should all be doing -- there is some unpleasant arguing once again (though luckily from only a few -- and I don't mean the folks asking questions). Can't people take a deep breath and for change from a number of recent months just simply be justifiably happy that something really, really, important and wonderful has really happened? What is so terrible about seeing a long term goal which can help ferrets actually being achieved? Let yourselves relax. Something good has happened. Enjoy it. We have all deserved a break from the painful things and this should be one for us all because this is truly marvelous knowledge. Rejoice and celebrate. Kiss a ferret. -- 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 5217]