http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2013/nichd-27.htm This is NOT the same as ferret adrenal disease, BUT it may give an idea of another location to look for mutations, if this genetic location and allele variants are not now among the ones currently being researched, which perhaps can make the formation of ferret adrenal disease more likely, too. The mechanism for formation of most adrenal tumors is well known. Most appear in neutered ferrets several years after neutering with too much LH exposure for too long, BUT a very large portion of neutered ferrets do not get adrenal disease, some whole ferrets get adrenal disease, and since fancies have been more common adrenal disease before ages five or six has been described more often plus the rate of adrenal disease itself seems increased in neutered domestic ferrets compared to decades ago. That means there are variations to understand, and a lot has already been eliminated as possible contributors. Cases like those of the rare young, whole ferrets who form adrenal tumors "stink of genetics" as Dr. Michelle Hawkins is prone to saying. That is far from common, but it has been documented as occurring with some ferrets, while other ferrets may have less aggressive genetic vulnerabilities. Some of the things involved may be husbandry changes involving too little darkness like using those green and blue equipment lights since reductions in natural melatonin production in the body during darkness increases LH output -- which is why providing enough access to darkness may be good and may be why In conversations some southern U.S. vets seem to encounter higher rates than some northern ones, but some of the variation may very, very likely be genetics. Doctor Bob Wagner has a paper out on one genetic variant found in some U.S. domestic ferrets which reduces the ability to fight off the formation of endocrinological tumors in general (so can also be insulinoma related) and Doctor Michelle Hawkins is researching some other possible genetic contributors. Meanwhile, people can just do the things demonstrated to help like getting Suprelorin implants once a year for possible prevention or delay of the disease, follow new work like the hormonal vaccine work of Doctors Wagner and Fisher, anticipate upcoming research with joy, try providing good access to dark areas, etc. If a light must be used ever at night then stick to amber ones. That wavelength range disrupts melatonin production the least. Blue wavelengths are the worst, followed be green. BTW, there is human work indicating that this is best for some malignancy patients, too, including ones with hormonal malignancies and ones with lymphoma. Veterinarians can buy Suprelorin implants from Virbac. Ours get that each late Winter/early Spring, usually in February or March. [Posted in FML 7974]