Milk and Plasma Glucocorticoid Alterations After Injections of Hydrocortisone and Adrenocorticotropin

Abstract

I.m. injections of hydrocortisone (1600 mg) or [porcine] ACTH (250 or 100 IU) elevated the concentration of glucocorticoids in [cow] plasma and milk. The concentration of glucocorticoids in plasma was highly correlated with the concentration in whole milk and skim milk, before and after either hydrocortisone or ACTH injections. The similarity of glucocorticoid concentrations in whole milk and skim milk fractions suggests that glucocorticoids are not primarily associated with milk fat.