Vet Med - Czech, 2026, 71(6):222-229 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2025-VETMED

Meloxicam blood levels are not affected by sex-related hormones in male and female goatsOriginal Paper

A Gokceoglu ORCID...1, Z Ozdemir Kutahya ORCID...2, GF Yarim ORCID...3, P Piner Benli ORCID...2, C Gokbulut ORCID...4
1 Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Faculty of Ceyhan Veterinary Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkiye
2 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Ceyhan Veterinary Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkiye
3 Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkiye
4 Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkiye

The present study aims to investigate the interaction between the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug meloxicam and sex hormones in seasonal polyoestrous male and female Saanen goats. It was hypothesised that sex hormones, both steroidal and peptide hormones, may influence the serum concentration of the lipophilic drug meloxicam. In the study, the relationship between plasma meloxicam concentration (μg/ml) and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), testosterone, oestradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) was evaluated. For this purpose, six male and six female Saanen goats aged one year were intravenously administered a 0.5 mg/kg dose of meloxicam, and blood samples were collected at different time points (0, 5, 30 min, and 2, 8, 24, 48 h) to obtain plasma and serum. The hormone levels were determined by ELISA, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and drug concentrations were measured by HPLC-UV. While the study found no direct correlation between the meloxicam levels and the sex hormones, significant sex-related differences in the hormone levels underscore the importance of considering sex-related physiological differences in veterinary pharmacology. These results will establish a scientific basis for future research on species- and sex-specific dosage adjustments.

Keywords: NSAIDs; reproductive hormones; Saanen goats

Received: December 1, 2025; Revised: March 25, 2026; Accepted: March 27, 2026; Prepublished online: June 25, 2026; Published: June 29, 2026  Show citation

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Gokceoglu A, Ozdemir Kutahya Z, Yarim G, Piner Benli P, Gokbulut C. Meloxicam blood levels are not affected by sex-related hormones in male and female goats. Veterinární medicína. 2026;71(6):222-229. doi: 10.17221/103/2025-VETMED.
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