Equine Science encompasses the study of horses and their management, health, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines such as biology, genetics, nutrition, physiology, and veterinary medicine to understand and improve the well-being and capabilities of horses. Areas of focus include equine anatomy, reproduction, behavior, and disease prevention. Research in equine science aims to enhance horse care, optimize training and performance, and address health challenges. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine science, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the field.
McKeever KH, Malinowski K, Christensen RA, Hafs HD.The purpose of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that chronic (89 days) administration of recombinant equine somatotropin (eST) would increase aerobic capacity and improve exercise performance in old mares. Fifteen, healthy, unfit, aged (20-26 year old) mares were randomly assigned to a treatment (eST, 12.5 mg day-1 in 3 ml glycine/manitol buffer, s.c., n = 7) or control (vehicle, 3 ml day-1, s.c., n = 8) group. Aerobic capacity and exercise performance were measured using a standardized exercise test (SET) performed on a high speed treadmill. Tests were conducted before (-21 days), d...
Hassel DM, Yarbrough TB.To describe a method for facilitating movement of enteroliths obstructing the proximal portion of the descending colon. Methods: Prospective report. Methods: 15 horses. Methods: A seromuscular incision through the antimesenteric taenia of the proximal portion of the descending colon was used to facilitate movement of enteroliths. Results: Teniotomy allowed proximal descending colon enteroliths located within the abdomen or close to the abdominal wall to be advanced 4 to 15 cm in an aboral direction so that they could be exteriorized for safe removal. Conclusions: Teniotomy is a feasible method...
Murray RC, Gaughan EM, Debowes RM, Hoskinson JJ.To assess feasibility of insertion of 4.5-mm Herbert cannulated bone screws (HS) using fluoroscopic guidance and compare the mechanical shear strength of these HS and 4.5-mm AO cortical bone screws (AO) for fixation of dorsal plane slab osteotomies in equine cadaver third carpal bones (C3). Methods: Eight equine cadavers. Methods: Bone mineral composition and density of contralateral C3 were confirmed to be equivalent using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. A standard 10-mm C3 slab osteotomy was reduced using HS or AO instrumentation under fluoroscopic guidance. Specimens were loaded in shear ...
Cook RF, Leroux C, Cook SJ, Berger SL, Lichtenstein DL, Ghabrial NN, Montelaro RC, Issel CJ.An infectious nonpathogenic molecular clone (19-2-6A) of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) was modified by substitution of a 3.3-kbp fragment amplified by PCR techniques from a pathogenic variant (EIAV(PV)) of the cell culture-adapted strain of EIAV (EIAV(PR)). This substitution consisted of coding sequences for 77 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus of the integrase, the S1 (encoding the second exon of tat), S2, and S3 (encoding the second exon of rev) open reading frames, the complete env gene (including the first exon of rev), and the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR). Modified 19-2-6A mol...
Hardy J, Bertone AL, Weisbrode SE, Muir WW, O'Dorisio TM, Masty J.To describe the acute cellular response, inflammatory mediator release, and effect on chondrocyte metabolism of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) in isolated innervated or denervated equine metacarpophalangeal joints. Methods: One metacarpophalangeal joint of 24 adult horses. Methods: The metacarpophalangeal joint was isolated for 6 hours in a pump-perfused, auto-oxygenated, innervated or denervated metacarpophalangeal joint preparation. Isolated joints were assigned to 4 groups: control, control-denervated, inflamed, and inflamed-denervated, and inflammation was induced by intra-articular inject...
Speake PF, Roberts CA, Gibson JS.K influx into equine red blood cells (RBCs) was measured using 86Rb as a tracer for K under conditions designed to mimic the changes in respiratory blood parameters that occur in vivo during strenuous exercise. The effects on K influx of physiological changes in pH, cell volume, O2 tension (PO2), CO2 tension (PCO2), and bicarbonate and lactate concentrations were defined. Physiological PO2 exerted a dominant controlling influence on the H(+)-stimulated Cl-dependent K influx, consistent with effects on the K-Cl cotransporter, PO2 required for half-maximal activity was 37 +/- 3 mmHg (4.9 kPa). A...
Doherty O, Booth M, Waran N, Salthouse C, Cí·¯ord D.The energy expenditure and heart rate of five Shetland ponies were measured during transport and compared with the values recorded while they were at rest and walking. Secondary aims of the study were to investigate whether there was any correlation between heart rate and energy expenditure and whether different orientations affected the values to different degrees. The measurements were recorded at one-minute intervals while the ponies were at rest, walking and being transported in four different orientations, on journeys lasting 30 minutes. There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in ...
Ludewig T.The purpose of the study was to give a histological picture of the different skin regions of the mammary gland in mares. Special emphasis on the dark coating in the sulcus intermammarius was given. As a result, the dark pigmented udder skin can be subdivided into the skin of the Corpus mammae, the sulcus intermammarius and the teat skin. In the sulcus intermammarius the whole epidermis was considerably thicker than usual, especially the stratum corneum (up to 70 layers of cornified layers) and the stratum spinosum. In general, the squamous keratinocytes were unusually large. The histological p...
Muñoz A, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Vivo R, Agüera EI, Escribano BM, Castejón FM.The physiological and metabolic adaptations to exercise of the Andalusian horse seem to differ slightly from those found in other breeds. The authors studied the locomotor adaptation of 18 Andalusian horses to a training programme in relation to anaerobic energy metabolism, efficacy of the training programme, and changes associated with the onset of fatigue. They also tried to find out if these changes had become diminished by training. Several locomotor variables during trotting and galloping were determined and plasma lactate concentrations were measured before training and after two trainin...
Moslemi S, Vibet A, Papadopoulos V, Camoin L, Silberzahn P, Gaillard JL.Cytochrome P-450 aromatase was purified by five chromatographic steps from adult stallion testis. It was first separated from NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (reductase) on omega-aminohexyl-Sepharose 4B then purified to homogeneity on concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, hydroxyapatite-Sepharose 4B, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and on a second hydroxyapatite-Sepharose 4B. On the other hand, purifications of the equine testicular and rat liver reductases, which allowed the reconstitution of aromatase activity in vitro, were achieved for each species in one chromatographic step on an adenosine 2',5'-diphosphat...
Rivero JL, Talmadge RJ, Edgerton VR.In adult horses, three myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms can be identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunohistochemistry using specific anti-MyHC monoclonal antibodies. This report studies the suitability of a consistent SDS-PAGE technique for quantifying MyHC profiles in homogenized cryostate sections of equine gluteus medius muscle biopsies (n = 18). The method used (previously described by R. J. Talmadge and R. R. Roy; J. Appl. Physiol. 1993, 75, 2337-2340) resolved MyHCs in three bands: I, IIB or IIX, and IIA from the fastest to the slowe...
Ainsworth DM, Smith CA, Eicker SW, Ducharme NG, Henderson KS, Snedden K, Dempsey JA.In exercising quadrupeds, limb movement is often coupled with breathing frequency. This finding has lead some investigators to conclude that locomotory forces, associated with foot plant, abdominal visceral displacements or lumbo-sacral flexion, are the primary determinants of airflow generation. Analysis of respiratory muscle electrical activation (EMG) and contraction profiles in chronically instrumented dogs and horses, along with measurements of esophageal pressure (Pes) changes and limb movements, provide evidence that each breath during the exercise hyperpnea is determined by respiratory...
Grøndahl C, Hansen TH, Hossaini A, Heinze I, Greve T, Hyttel P.Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed on equine oocytes matured in vitro. The oocytes were aspirated from abattoir ovaries and matured in vitro for 36 h at 38 degrees C. ICSI was performed using frozen/thawed stallion semen after swimup in medium containing human serum albumin. Sperm-injected oocytes were either 1) cultured in vitro for 10, 20, or 72 h; 2) transferred to oviducts of pseudopregnant mice; or 3) transferred to a synchronized mare after initial in vitro culture. The transferred ova were recovered after 72 h, and all ova were subsequently fixed, stained, and process...
Chopineau M, Martinat N, Marichatou H, Troispoux C, Auge-Gouillou C, Stewart F, Combarnous Y, Guillou F.Horse LH/chorionic gonadotrophin (eLH/CG) exhibits, in addition to its normal LH activity, a high FSH activity in all other species tested. Donkey LH/CG (dkLH/CG) also exhibits FSH activity in other species, but about ten times less than the horse hormone. In order to understand the molecular basis of these dual gonadotrophic activities of eLH/CG and dkLH/CG better, we expressed, in COS-7 cells, hybrids between horse and donkey subunits, between horse or donkey alpha-subunit and human CG beta (hCG beta), and also between the porcine alpha-subunit and horse or donkey LH/CG beta. The resultant r...
Duvivier DH, Votion D, Vandenput S, Lekeux P.Inhalation therapy plays an increasing role in the management of equine respiratory disorders. This alternative to systematic treatment permits a high concentration of medication to act locally while minimizing side effects and residues. In human medicine, literature in this field is prolific and continuously renewed, whereas in veterinary medicine, applications of aerosol therapy are less extensive. This review considers the principles of action of the different types of devices used for inhalation, i.e., nebulization, metered-dose inhalation and dry powder inhalation, describes the technical...
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.Four rations that differed in their crude protein and essential amino-acid content were compiled. Digestibility of the crude protein and essential amino-acid contents were determined biologically in a feeding trial using 4 Anglo-Arab stallions. Their respective daily diets were: Diet 1:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay (Eragrostis tef); Diet 2:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay (Medicago sativa); Diet 3:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay, 200 g fishmeal; Diet 4:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay, 200 g fishmeal. The concentrations of the amino-acids threonine, iso-leucine, leucine and arginine were increased in the total ra...
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.The effect of 4 different diets, in terms of protein quantity and quality, on total serum protein (TSP), albumin and globulin was investigated. Non-pregnant mares that were not lactating (n = 36), pregnant mares that had foaled (n = 24) and their foals (n = 24) were used in this study. Daily total protein intake had no effect on blood protein concentrations in the mares. Total protein intake and quality (available essential amino-acids) did affect the body mass of mares during lactation. When mares were fed the minimum recommended (National Research Council 1989) total daily protein, foal mass...
Gottschalk RD, van den Berg SS.Bilateral ovariectomy was performed in 11 mares and unilateral ovariectomy in 2 mares. The horses were standing and sedated for surgery. After appropriate preparation a laparoscope was inserted into the abdomen through the paralumbar fossa and the ovary was identified and anaesthetised with local anaesthetic via a custom-built needle. The ovary was then withdrawn from the abdomen through a separate flank incision and removed. The abdomen was not distended with gas before surgery. This method proved to be minimally invasive, rapid and effective.
Vandenput S, Istasse L, Nicks B, Lekeux P.Standardized methods were used to make quantitative and qualitative assessments of respirable dust and aeroallergens in feed and bedding for horses. Concentrations of airborne dust were measured by using a Rion particle counter, and levels of major aeroallergens implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were measured by using an Andersen sampler. Laboratory conditions allowed comparison of the different sources of forage, supplements, and bedding without external influences such as ventilation, external temperature and horse activity affecting the result. Grass silages of approximate...
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.In the main experiment the total daily protein intake and quality (essential amino-acids) was varied in 4 groups of mares. The incidence of oestrus in mares during the transitional period was unaffected by protein nutrition. Ovarian activity, as evaluated by follicular development and size of the ovaries, was affected. Mares that received low-quality protein (Groups 1 and 2) had a higher number of smaller follicles (< 10 mm) that developed during the transitional period compared to mares on a high-quality protein intake (Groups 3 and 4). The mares that received the high quality protein ovulate...
Cauvin ER, Munroe GA, Boswell J, Boyd JS.This study was undertaken to establish the gross anatomy and the ultrasonographic appearance of the carpal digital flexor tendon sheath (carpal sheath) and the palmar carpal region in normal horses. The isolated forelimbs from 15 horses were used to study the morphology of the sheath and associated structures, including a detailed study of the location of the main blood vessels and nerves in that region. These limbs and the forelimbs of five live, sound horses were also examined ultrasonographically. The examination yielded good soft tissue detail of the tendons and ligaments, synovial and per...
McKeever KH, Malinowski K.To test the hypothesis that, compared with unfit young horses, unfit older horses have lower aerobic capacity and reduction in other indices of exercise capacity. Methods: 6 young (mean +/- SEM, 5.3 +/- 0.8 years and 445 +/- 13 kg) and 6 aged (22.0 +/- 0.4 years and 473 +/- 18 kg) healthy Standardbred and Thoroughbred mares. Methods: The mares, accustomed to running on a treadmill, were tested by use of an incremental exercise test. None of the mares had received exercise training for at least 4 months prior to the study. During testing, mares ran up a fixed 6% grade, starting at a speed of 4 ...
Williams TM, Dobson GP, Mathieu-Costello O, Morsbach D, Worley MB, Phillips JA.To establish a skeletal muscle profile for elite sprinters, we obtained muscle biopsy samples from the vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius and soleus of African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Muscle ultrastructure was characterized by the fiber type composition and mitochondrial volume density of each sample. Maximum enzyme activity, myoglobin content and mixed fiber metabolite content were used to assess the major biochemical pathways. The results demonstrate a preponderance of fast-twitch fibers in the locomotor muscles of cheetahs; 83% of the total number of fibers examined in the vastus laterali...
Keg PR, van Weeren PR, Back W, Barneveld A.The influence of the force applied and its period of application on the outcome of the flexion test of the distal forelimb was investigated in a group of eight sound horses. The degree of lameness after the flexion test was scored by a standard clinical classification, and by measuring the angle of maximum fetlock extension by means of the infrared light-based MacReflex gait analysis system. There was a good correlation between the clinical score and this electronically recorded kinematic parameter (r = 0.96). Both the force applied and the period of application affected the outcome of the tes...
Sams RA, Gerken DF, Ashcraft SM.The respiratory stimulant prethcamide is a mixture of equal parts of crotethamide and cropropamide. A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic method for the determination of crotethamide and cropropamide in horse plasma and urine is described. Both components of prethcamide were extracted from plasma and urine into dichloromethane. The extracts were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with thermionic detection in the nitrogen-specific detection mode. The lower limits of quantitation were 4.0 ng ml-1 of plasma and 10.0 ng ml-1 of urine. Calibration curves were linear from 2.0-100 ng ml-...
Dovc P, Susnik S, Snoj A.Management of breeding- and free-living populations, traditionally based on phenotypic traits, relays more and more on availability of reliable information about the basic population genetic parameters as heterozygosity, mean number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, population structuring, genetic distances and others. Therefore, the application of molecular markers, revealing a great deal of phenotypically hidden information, becomes inevitable for population analysis. Conservation geneticists use this information for implementation of appropriate management policies. Appl...
Bøgh IB, Baltsen M, Byskov AG, Greve T.In the cryptorchid stallion, spermatogenesis is arrested at various levels before the completion of meiosis. In men, infantile cryptorchidism is also often associated with oligo- and azoospermia during adulthood. An impairment of spermatogenesis might be reflected in the level of locally produced factors. Formerly, a meiosis-activating sterol (T-MAS) has been isolated in murine and bovine testes. This sterol possesses the potential to trigger resumption of meiosis in cultured mouse oocytes, indicating that it might play an important role in the regulation of the meiotic process in the female g...
van Weeren PR, van den Bogert AJ, Barneveld A.A technique enabling simultaneous visualisation of skin and underlying bony structures in the walking horse was used to quantify skin displacements on the lateral surface of carpal, tarsal and fetlock joints. The technique employed implanted light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) for marking the bone, and self adhesive spot labels for marking the overlying skin. Photographic recordings were made. Skin displacement was measured in six Dutch Warmblood horses. Mean total displacements and mean displacement per degree of change of joint angle were calculated. Displacements at the level of the fetlock joints...
Crawford WH, Leach DH.A survey of a western Canadian racetrack determined the superelevation and transition curves to be less than the cited design standards. High-speed cinematography was used to film seven Standardbred pacers as they proceeded around one curve of the track at racing speed and for each horse 19 temporal stride parameters were obtained from these films using a film analyzer system. Average velocities were calculated and the mean stride length was found to vary from 5.08 m to 5.77 m. In all frames analyzed the hind foot was observed to contact the track surface prior to the ipsilateral forefoot and ...
Guhl A, Lindner A, von Wittke P.Eight thoroughbred horses, trained for racing competition, were subjected to a standardised incremental speed test to determine the relationship between their blood lactate concentrations and running speed. Between 14 days before and 14 days after completing the standardised exercise test, the horses were timed for runs of 2000 to 6000 m. The blood lactate concentration after each run was measured and compared with the blood lactate concentration predicted from the individual horse's blood lactate-running speed relationship curve determined from the standardised exercise test. The relationship...
Ericson KK, Yang TJ.During our studies of cytostatic cytokines in the mixed leukocyte culture, we found that horse serum in the medium control contained a tumor cell growth-inhibitory factor. The fraction isolated by molecular sieving and ion exchange chromatography inhibited the growth and DNA synthesis of the primary culture and passaged cell line of the canine transmissible venereal sarcoma, murine T (L5178Y) and B (P3-X63-Ag8.653) lymphoid tumor cells, murine mammary tumor cells (RIII), bovine lymphoid tumor cells (BL3), and the nontransformed cell line of baby hamster kidney cells. Nontransformed cell lines ...
Giles C, Cavanagh HM, Noble G, Vanniasinkam T.There are currently two known serotypes of equine adenovirus (EAdV), equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV1) and equine adenovirus type 2 (EAdV2); EAdV1 is predominantly associated with upper respiratory tract infections while EAdV2 appears to have a higher association with gastrointestinal infection, however, very little is known about the prevalence of these viruses in horse populations in Australia. In this study we tested 122 serum samples obtained from horses in New South Wales, Australia, using a standard serum neutralization (SN) assay and ELISA. Ninety-seven of the 122 sera displayed had mode...
Lloyd DR, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Suann CJ, Rose RJ.We examined the effects of sodium bicarbonate in 6 Thoroughbred horses during submaximal and maximal treadmill exercise. Cardiorespiratory function was assessed together with the effect on exercise capacity by determining the run time to fatigue at maximal intensities. To discriminate between sodium bicarbonate's alkalinising effects and the fluid shifts that could result from the high osmotic load, we administered an equimolar solution of sodium chloride as a control. The horses were given sodium bicarbonate (1 g/kg bwt) or an equivalent number of moles of sodium chloride by nasogastric tube....
Canada NC, Beard WL, Guyan ME, White BJ.Currently, there is no objective information quantifying pressures exerted by distal limb bandages. Objective: To quantify the pressure exerted by each compression layer, a polo wrap (DLP), a compression bandage (DLC), and to measure the effect of time on sub-bandage pressure. Methods: Longitudinal observational experiment. Methods: A DLC construct included a cotton roll compressed with brown gauze and elastic layers and the DLP construct included a pillow pad compressed by a cloth wrap. Dorsal and lateral sensors were placed on the mid-metacarpus. In healthy horses, sub-bandage pressures were...
Ferreira-Dias G, Costa AS, Mateus L, Korzekwa A, Redmer DA, Skarzynski DJ.Soon after ovulation, the corpus luteum (CL) starts secreting progesterone (P(4)), a hormone necessary for implantation. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether P(4) exerts an autocrine/paracrine action on luteal angiogenic activity and P(4), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and NO production in the mare. Corpora hemorrhagica (CH) and mid-luteal phase CL (MCL) were cultured with (i) no hormone (Control); (ii) P(4); (iii) a P(4) precursor - pregnenolone; or (iv) a P(4) antagonist - onapristone [10(-4) M;10(-5) M; all steroids]. NO production decreased in MCL, with respect to CH, when treated wi...
Main SC, Brown LP, Melvin KR, Campagna SR, Voy BH, Castro HF, Strickland LG, Hines MT, Jacobs RD, Gordon ME, Ivey JLZ.The large population of emaciated horses continues to be an issue troubling the equine industry. However, little is known regarding the collection of equine metabolites (metabolome) during a malnourished state and the changes that occur throughout nutritional rehabilitation. In this study, ten emaciated horses underwent a refeeding process, during which blood samples were collected for a blood chemistry panel and metabolomics analysis via ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Significant differences among blood chemistry analytes and metabo...
Connelly C, Norton NA, Hurley DJ, Hart KA, Meichner K, Gogal RM.Peripheral blood is commonly sampled to assess the health status of human and veterinary patients. Venous blood collection is a minimally invasive procedure, and in the horse, the common collection site is the jugular vein. Post blood collection, sample processing for leukocyte enrichment can vary by research laboratory with the potential to yield different effects on the enriched cells and their function. The focus of the present study was to compare a common blood dilution-leukocyte enrichment technique using a Histopaque gradient medium (His) to a modified leukocyte buffy coat syringe-lymph...
Tonekaboni FR, Narenjisani R, Staji H, Ahmadi-Hamedani M.This investigation aimed to compare the cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) plasma present in three trimesters of pregnancy in Torkaman pregnant mare. Peripheral blood samples of 32 pregnant mares in three trimesters of pregnancy were collected in tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at three time points. Circulating cffDNA was extracted from 3 mL of maternal plasma. Using outer and inner primers, a conventional polymerase chain reaction was performed for the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene present in the Y chromosome. Of the total 32 Torkaman pregnant mares, 24 were carrying male fe...
Mari G, Bucci D, Love CC, Mislei B, Rizzato G, Giaretta E, Merlo B, Spinaci M.The aim of this study was to compare the effect of presorting centrifugation (cushioned [CC] or single-layer colloid [SLC]), with simple dilution (SD), on the quality of sex-sorted stallion semen before and after sorting and after freezing and thawing. Four ejaculates from each of two fertile stallions were collected 1 week apart and evaluated for percent total sperm motility (TM), percent viable acrosome-intact sperm (VAI), and DNA quality (percentage of DNA fragmentation index). Freezing caused, independently from CC and SLC treatments, a significant decrease of TM (P < 0.05) and VAI (...
Sato F, Tanabe T, Murase H, Tominari M, Kawai M.Global positioning system (GPS) units are now lightweight and compact. They have proven useful for analyzing the behavioral characteristics of horses in pastures. Because the GPS records data in latitude and longitude, it may be feasible to calculate the distance between GPS units. The present study aimed to confirm the applicability of GPS units in behavioral studies on horses. For this, we analyzed the accuracy of the distances calculated from GPS units using Hubeny's distance formula and of the monthly changes in interindividual distances obtained from GPS units worn by Thoroughbred dams an...
Firth EC, Schamhardt HC, Hartman W.Two to 7 days after birth, 9 foals were anesthetized, and strain gauges were applied to lateral and medial aspects of the third metacarpal bone of the left forelimb. In 5 of these foals, strain gauges also were applied to the radius of the left forelimb. Four to 6 days later, foals were walked (5 sets of 10 to 20 strides), and compressive and tensile strains in the bone beneath strain gauges were recorded on paper and diskette. After recording base-line data, a wedge was fitted to the hoof of the limb with the strain gauges, in such a way that the lateral bearing surface was raised, and strain...
McCarty CA, Thomason JJ, Gordon K, Burkhart T, Bignell W.We wished to add to the existing baseline data on impact loading of the distal limb as a precursor to assessing the potential role of impact in injury and joint disease. Objective: To examine the effect of 3 hoof-strike conditions (toe first, flat and heel first) and 2 specimen masses (with and without a ballast of ∼2% body mass) on impact deceleration and vibration frequencies and energies at the hoof, first phalanx and third metacarpal. Methods: Biomechanical experiments in cadaver material. Methods: Eight cadaver limbs were subjected to randomised, repeated controlled trials, in which the...
Gondim FJ, Modolo LV, Campos GE, Salgado I.Mammalian skeletal muscle expresses splice variants of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Skeletal muscles have a metabolically heterogeneous population of myofibers, and fiber composition in equine skeletal muscle is correlated with athletic ability in endurance events. In this study, we investigated whether nNOS expression in equine skeletal muscle is related to fiber type and endurance training. Biopsy samples obtained from the gluteus medius of sedentary- (SH) and endurance-trained (TH) horses were examined for the electrophoretic mobility of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and NOS activity. ...
Stewart F, Maher JK.The number of genes encoding the common alpha-subunit and hormone-specific beta-subunits of the equine gonadotrophins (FSH, LH and CG) were investigated in the horse (Equus caballus), donkey (E. asinus) and 2 horse x donkey hybrids (the mule and hinny). The Southern technique, involving restriction enzyme digestion, blotting and DNA hybridization to 32P-labelled DNA probes was used to estimate the copy number for each gene and to assess the extent to which equids resemble primates, the only other animals that secrete a CG during pregnancy. These methods indicated that, in common with mammals, ...
Dall'Aglio C, Bazzucchi C, Mercati F, Ceccarelli P.Leptin is a hormone widely diffused in the mammalian body in which it plays functions that go far beyond control of appetite and energy metabolism. The finding that it is present in the major salivary glands of various animal species is of interest for the functional implications that it may imply. Since there are no data on the presence of leptin and its receptor in the minor salivary glands, the aim of this study was to demonstrate their presence and distribution in such glands of donkeys. This latter was chosen as species of reference because the monogastric herbivore shows intense salivati...
Álvarez C, Luño V, González N, Gil L.Sperm quality in donkeys (Equus asinus) after freezing thawing is still considered lower than that from other animals, including horses. The aim of this study was to test a new freezing extender supplemented with jenny colostrum on donkey sperm. After thawing, we evaluated sperm motility by means of computer-assisted analysis, viability by SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI), membrane functional integrity by HOS-test and acrosome integrity by isothiocyanate conjugated with peanut agglutinin (FITC-PNA) and PI. Ejaculates were collected from five fertile Donkeys. Sperm samples were pooled, diluted...
Lefranc A-, Allen WR.The morphology and surface density of endometrial glands responsible for the nutrition of the placenta requires further study employing computer assisted morphometric analysis. Objective: To analyse changes in the morphology and surface density of endometrial glands situated adjacent to, and remote from, the conceptus during the first 30 days of gestation. Methods: Endometrial biopsies were recovered, under videoendoscopic control, from both nonpregnant and pregnant mares 12 days after ovulation, as well as from pregnant mares on Days 16, 20, 25 and 30 of gestation. One biopsy was taken at the...
Arabian AK, Lanovaz JL, Clayton HM.Determination of net joint moments and powers requires accurate measurements of mass and centre of mass (COM) for the limb segments. The objective of this research was to develop regression equations for calculating mass and COM of the hoof segment that are applicable over a wide range of hoof morphologies. Ninety-one hooves (mean +/- s.d. 0.99 +/- 0.50 kg) were weighed and the 3-dimensional COM determined using a mass balance technique. Ten morphological variables were measured and used as independent variables in linear regressions with dependent variables of mass and centre of mass. The reg...
Schulman ML, Marlow CH, Nurton JP.The data and an analysis of the statistical summaries from the 'Return of Mares' of the General Stud Book of The Jockey Club of Southern Africa from 1975-1999 are presented. The total number of mares covered per season ranged from 7393 (1992) to 5180 (1995). The total living produce in the period surveyed was 95 317 foals. The categories of data examined include: the total number of mares covered per season; the total numbers and percentage of their living produce; the total numbers and percentage dead produce, 'slips' and foals born dead, barren and 'no return' mares; and the total number of ...
Kernot N, Butler R, Randle H.Conditions of the equine caudal neck (C5-C7) are thought to be associated with various clinical signs. However, little investigation has been undertaken to isolate clinical indicators associated with specific conditions of the equine caudal cervical spine. This systematic review aimed to evaluate associations of clinical signs with anatomical malformation of caudal cervical vertebrae, spinal cord compression of the caudal cervical spine, and arthropathy of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJs). A literature search was carried out using Google Scholar in accordance with PRISMA (Pr...
Brinsko SP, Squires EL, Pickett BW, Nett TM.The objective of this study was to determine if prolonged pulsatile administration of homologous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at therapeutic or 5x therapeutic doses would cause down-regulation of the stallion's hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Fifteen stallions were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (n=5/group) and received a 0.5 ml subcutaneous dose of saline (group 1), 50 microg GnRH (group 2), or 250 microg GnRH (group 3) every 2 hours for 75 days. Weekly evaluations of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone and monthly evaluations of d...
Boldt E.Horses 15 years of age and older now account for a significant portion of the equine population. Integrative therapies can provide important diagnostic and treatment tools for managing and maintaining the health of geriatric horses. Aged horses are often afflicted with chronic disease processes that are difficult to effectively manage with conventional medicinal approaches, such as laminitis and osteoarthritis. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches using integrative therapies, such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation, are presented in this article for managing aged horses with metabolic dis...
Powers P.Sagittal plane SVHS video recordings (50 Hz) were made of horses jumping the wall at an international Puissance competition. Video sequences were manually digitized and six kinematic variables at take-off were analyzed. Nine horses started the competition with the fence height at 1.80 m, and two horses attempted the fence in the fifth and final round with the fence height at 2.27 m. For successful performances, fence height was correlated with the following take-off variables: vertical velocity of the centre of mass (r = 0.45, p = 0.03); height of centre of mass (r = 0.44, p = 0.04); distance ...
Pressanto MC, Pascoletti G, Perkins JD, Zanetti EM, Beccati F, Santalucia V, Pepe M.To validate the use of a polyblend tape suture in equine laryngoplasty (PL). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Thirty-two cadaveric larynges. Methods: Each larynx was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: PL with polyblend tape suture (TigerTape), without (TT) or with a cannula (TTC) in the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage, and PL with polyester suture (Ethibond), without (EB) or with a cannula (EBC). Construct stiffness, total migration, creep, and drift values were measured after 3000 cycles. The specimens were then loaded to failure to assess their residual properties: load a...
