Experimental methods in equine research encompass a variety of techniques and procedures used to investigate physiological, behavioral, and health-related aspects of horses. These methods are designed to collect data that can enhance the understanding of equine biology and inform veterinary practices. Common experimental approaches include controlled trials, observational studies, and laboratory-based experiments. Techniques may involve the use of non-invasive imaging, biochemical assays, and physiological monitoring to assess parameters such as metabolic function, locomotion, and disease progression. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the application, development, and evaluation of experimental methods in the study of equine science.
Poulin Braim AE, MacDonald MH, Bruss ML, Grattendick KJ, Giri SN, Margolin SB.To characterize effects of IV administration of pirfenidone on clinical, biochemical, and hematologic variables and circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations in horses after infusion of a low dose of endotoxin. Methods: 18 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 6 horses/group) and administered an IV infusion of 30 ng of endotoxin/kg or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution during a 30-minute period. Lipopolysaccharide-pirfenidone horses received endotoxin followed by pirfenidone (loading dose of 11.6 mg/kg and then constant rate infusion [CRI] at...
Crevier-Denoix N, Ravary-Plumioën B, Evrard D, Pourcelot P.A non-invasive ultrasonic (US) technique of tendon force measurement has been recently developed. It is based on the relationship demonstrated between the speed of sound (SOS) in a tendon and the traction force applied to it. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the variability of this non-linear relationship among 7 equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons, and the reproducibility of SOS measurements in these tendons over successive loading cycles and tests. Seven SDF tendons were equipped with an US probe (1MHz), secured in contact with the skin overlying the tendon me...
Fleming K, Hessel EF, Van den Weghe HF.The aim of this study was to compare different types of bedding and mucking regimens used in horse stables on the generation of airborne particulate matter <10 microm (PM10) and 3 biogenic gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and especially ammonia). Three separate experiments were undertaken. The experiments were carried out in an enclosed stable (9.7 m long, 8.7 m wide, and 3.5 m high) that had 5 single boxes housing 4 horses. The measuring instruments were set up in the middle of one side of the stable. In Exp. 1, 3 types of bedding material (wheat straw, straw pellets, and wood shavings) ...
Fureix C, Pagès M, Bon R, Lassalle JM, Kuntz P, Gonzalez G.Handling is a crucial component of the human-horse relationship. Here, we report data from an experiment conducted to assess and compare the effect of two training methods. Two groups of six Welsh mares were trained during four sessions of 50 min, one handled with traditional exercises (halter leading, grooming/brushing, lifting feet, lunging and pseudo-saddling (using only girth and saddle pad) and the second group with natural horsemanship exercises (desensitization, yielding to body pressure, lunging and free-lunging). Emotional reactivity (ER) and the human-horse relationship (HHR) were as...
Scherzer J, Fayrer-Hosken RA, Aceves M, Hurley DJ, Ray LE, Jones L, Heusner GL.We evaluated combinations of two commercial semen extenders and three concentrations of glycerol to determine the combination that yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility. Methods: A randomised 2 x 3 block design was used. Methods: Semen was collected from four stallions (6 collections per stallion). The sample was diluted with either a dried skim-milk glucose extender (EZ Mixin Original Formula) or a chemically defined, milk-free diluent (INRA 96), and each was used in combination with 2%, 3% or 4% glycerol in standard commercial freezing medium. Sperm motility was assessed by microscopy...
de Mattos Carvalho A, Alves AL, Golim MA, Moroz A, Hussni CA, de Oliveira PG, Deffune E.The purpose of this work was to isolate and cultivate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from equine adipose tissue and conduct cellular characterization with the following markers: CD90, CD44 and CD13. Adipose tissue collection was performed at the base of the horses' tails, followed by immediate isolation and cultivation of the MSC and posterior characterization by flow cytometry for the interspecies reaction test using mouse anti-rat CD90 monoclonal antibody (mAb), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and tests with specific mAb mouse anti-horse CD13 and mouse anti-horse CD44. The technique...
Cribb NC, Bouré LP, Hanna WJ, Akens MK, Mattson SE, Monteith GJ, Weese JS.To assess the antimicrobial elution characteristics, toxicity, and antimicrobial activity of amikacin-impregnated ferric-hyaluronate implants (AI-FeHAI) for amikacin delivery to the tarsocrural joint of horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: AI-FeHAI implants, equine cartilage, and synovium, and horses (n=6). Methods: In vitro study: Five AI-FeHAI were placed in saline solution with daily replacement until implant degradation. Eluent was tested for amikacin concentration and bioactivity. Synovial and cartilage explants were incubated in the presence or absence of AI-FeHAI for 72 hours a...
Dart A, Tee E, Brennan M, Dart C, Perkins N, Chapman S, Debney S.To assess the effect of 1 or 2 laryngeal prosthetic sutures on rima glottidis areas in equine laryngeal specimens. Methods: Experimental, randomized design. Methods: Cadaveric equine larynges (n=16). Methods: Larynges were collected from 10 horses; 2 sutures each were preplaced in the right and left sides of each larynx. A dorsal suture (DS) was placed through the caudal rim of the dorsal midline of the cricoid cartilage, under the cricopharyngeus muscle and through the proximal and rostral aspect of the muscular process. A lateral suture (LS) was placed 1.5 cm lateral to the DS and through th...
Chiam R, Sharp E, Maan S, Rao S, Mertens P, Blacklaws B, Davis-Poynter N, Wood J, Castillo-Olivares J.African horse sickness virus (AHSV) causes a non-contagious, infectious disease in equids, with mortality rates that can exceed 90% in susceptible horse populations. AHSV vaccines play a crucial role in the control of the disease; however, there are concerns over the use of polyvalent live attenuated vaccines particularly in areas where AHSV is not endemic. Therefore, it is important to consider alternative approaches for AHSV vaccine development. We have carried out a pilot study to investigate the ability of recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccines expressing VP2, VP7 or NS3 genes...
Stone SM.The human-horse relationship has a long evolutionary history. Horses continue to play a pivotal role in the lives of humans and it is common for humans to think their horses recognize them by face. If a horse can distinguish his/her human companion from other humans, then evolution has supplied the horse with a very adaptive cognitive ability. The current study used operant conditioning trials to examine whether horses could discriminate photographed human faces and transfer this facial recognition ability a novel setting. The results indicated the horses (a) learned to discriminate photograph...
Schauvliege S, Van den Eede A, Duchateau L, Gasthuys F.To evaluate the combined effects of enoximone and dobutamine on the cardiovascular system and respiratory gas exchange in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies. Methods: Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Methods: Six ponies (286 +/- 52 kg), aged 5.0 +/- 1.6 years. Methods: After sedation (romifidine 80 microg kg(-1)), anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.06 mg kg(-1)) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg(-1)) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The ponies were ventilated to maintain eucapnia. After 90 minutes (=T0), enoximone alone (0.5 mg kg(-1)) (E) or enoximone, followed by a constant ra...
Hothersall B, Gale EV, Harris P, Nicol CJ.Discrimination learning studies suggest that horses learn more easily using spatial than visible object-specific (OS) cues. However, spatial cues have generally confounded intra-array, distal and/or egocentric spatial information. It is also unclear whether conflicting cues compete for association or are redundantly encoded, and furthermore, the influence of prior experiences or training has not been quantified so far. We examined the effect of cue modality on unweaned foals' performance in a discrimination learning task. After a pilot study confirmed that horses could perform the required OS ...
Choi YH, Hartman DL, Fissore RA, Bedford-Guaus SJ, Hinrichs K.We evaluated the effect of different activation methods on blastocyst development after equine nuclear transfer. All activation treatments were followed by incubation in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 4 h. In Experiment 1, reconstructed oocytes were injected with sperm extract for 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.6 sec using a FemtoJet injection device, then treated with ionomycin. The blastocyst rate (9.8%) for 0.1-sec injection was significantly higher than that for 0.2 sec (0%) or 0.8 sec (1.4%). In Experiment 2, injection of murine PLCzeta cRNA before or after ionomycin treatment did not increase ...
Koch TG, Thomsen PD, Betts DH.A robust methodology for the isolation of cord blood-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (CB-MSCs) from fresh umbilical cord blood has not been reported in any species. The objective of this study was to improve the isolation procedure for equine CB-MSCs. Methods: Pre-culture separation of red and white blood cells was done using either PrepaCyte?-EQ medium or Ficoll-Paque? PREMIUM density medium. Regular FBS and MSC-qualified FBS were compared for their ability to support the establishment of putative primary MSC colonies. Conclusions: Our results indicate that PrepaCyte-EQ medium i...
Stewart AA, Barrett JG, Byron CR, Yates AC, Durgam SS, Evans RB, Stewart MC.To compare viability and biosynthetic capacities of cells isolated from equine tendon, muscle, and bone marrow grown on autogenous tendon matrix. Methods: Cells from 4 young adult horses. Methods: Cells were isolated, expanded, and cultured on autogenous cell-free tendon matrix for 7 days. Samples were analyzed for cell viability, proteoglycan synthesis, collagen synthesis, and mRNA expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Results: Tendon- and muscle-derived cells required less time to reach confluence (approx 2 weeks) than did bone marr...
Bonneau S, Maynard L, Tomczuk K, Kok D, Eun HM.In this blinded randomized and controlled study, the anthelmintic efficacy of a tablet formula of ivermectin-praziquantel was evaluated in horses experimentally infected with three species of Strongylus larvae. Eighteen previously dewormed horses were inoculated on study day 0 with third-stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus equinus, and Strongylus edentatus. The horses were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 6): test-drug (tablet formula), positive-control (reference gel), and negative-control (placebo tablet). On day 56, the horses were treated once with the respective drugs. ...
Hobbs SJ, Mather J, Rolph C, Richards J.Radial strain in normal hooves has been found to vary with strain gauge location, limb posture and sample limb but reported magnitudes were considered to be low. More accurate measurement of radial strain may enhance the understanding of hoof function. Objective: To explore in vitro radial hoof strain in relation other kinetic and kinematic variables that may be related. Methods: Five normal forelimbs were removed at the proximal articular surface of the third metacarpal bone (McIII). The limbs were loaded using a modified Instron test machine. Six calibrated infrared cameras captured movement...
Haussler KK, McGilvray KC, Ayturk UM, Puttlitz CM, Hills AE, McIlwraith CW.Sacroiliac joint injuries can cause poor performance; however, the interaction between pelvic mechanics and the sacroiliac joint is poorly understood. Objective: To measure pelvic displacement during 3D sacroiliac joint loading. Methods: Nine reflective triads were attached rigidly to bony prominences in sacropelvic specimens harvested from 14 horses for stereophotogrammetric analysis of triad displacements and joint kinematics. The sacrum was coupled to a load cell and mounted vertically within a material testing system (MTS). A pneumatic actuator was used to apply 90 Nm moments to the ischia...
Dzieciatkowski T, Chmielewska A, Turowska A, Tucholska A, Bańbura MW.In previous experiments, we have demonstrated that the presence of equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) enhanced plaque formation in cell cultures infected with equine herpesvirus type 1. To determine whether a specific region of the EHV-2 genome is responsible for this effect, we have constructed a library of Bam HI fragments of the EHV-2 genome ligated into pcDNA plasmid. Equine dermal (ED) cell cultures were subsequently transfected with the constructs, passaged 5 times, tested for the presence of the plasmids and infected with EHV-1 at MOI = 0.01. Only in cultures transfected with the pcDNA/Bam HI...
Ginther OJ, Siddiqui MA, Beg MA.Responses to intravenous treatment of mares with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF) 8 d after ovulation were studied in three groups (n=4/group): control (no treatment), bolus (single treatment with 2.5 mg PGF), and infusion (0.1 mg PGF during 2 h). Infusion resulted in a 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2alpha (PGFM) concentration (559+/-44 pg/mL) that was not different from the mean concentration for the major portion of a natural PGFM pulse associated with luteolysis (569+/-45 pg/mL; n=5). Progesterone in the bolus group increased (P<0.03) between 0 (17.8+/-3.5 ng/mL) and 2 min (25.3+/-4.8 ng/mL), peak...
Fachal MV, Furlan M, Clark R, Card CE, Chedrese PJ.The objective of this investigation was to clone and express the elk and horse common alpha-subunit and FSH beta-subunit cDNAs, and to produce recombinant FSH from both species in vitro. The RNAs extracted from elk and horse pituitary glands were reverse-transcribed and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The cDNAs corresponding to both subunits of elk and horse were cloned into the expression vector pBudCE4.1 and transfected into CRL-9096 cells. Expression of both genes was determined in the transfected cells by Northern and Western blot analysis. Recombinant elk and horse FSH secreted in...
Portier K, Crouzier D, Guichardant M, Prost M, Debouzy JC, Kirschvink N, Fellmann N, Lekeux P, Coudert J.To evaluate whether a period of hyperoxia or after a period of hypoxia produced changes attributable to reactive oxygen species in anaesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective randomized experimental study. Methods: Six healthy (ASA I) geldings, aged 4.5-9.5 years and weighing 510-640 kg(-1). Methods: After 30 minutes breathing air as carrier gas for isoflurane, horses were assigned randomly to breathe air as carrier gas (CG0.21) or oxygen as carrier gas (CG1.00) for a further 90 minutes. After an interval of 1 month each horse was re-anaesthetized with the other carrier gas for the 90 minute te...
Morgan DD, McClure S, Yaeger MJ, Schumacher J, Evans RB.To evaluate the effects of focused, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on the healing of wounds of the distal portion of the limbs in horses. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: In each horse, a 4-cm-diameter full-thickness wound that included underlying periosteum was created on the dorsomedial aspect of each metacarpus and two 3-cm-diameter full-thickness wounds that included underlying periosteum were created on the dorsomedial aspect of each metatarsus. One randomly selected metacarpal wound and a randomly selected pair of metatarsal wounds...
Lima-Neto JF, Fernandes CB, Alvarenga MA, Golim MA, Landim-Alvarenga FC.This experiment aimed to study equine fibroblasts in culture analyzing and the cell cycle and viability of cells pre- and post-freezing. Skin fragments were obtained from 6 horses and cultured in DMEM high glucose + 10% FCS in 5% CO(2) until the beginning of confluence. Two passages were performed before freezing. Cells subjected to serum starvation (0.5% FCS) were analyzed for viability and cell cycle at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 h of culture. For the confluent groups, cells were analyzed at the moment they achieved confluence. Cellular viability was assisted with Hoescht 33342 and pro...
Schauvliege S, Van den Eede A, Duchateau L, Pille F, Vlaminck L, Gasthuys F.To compare cardiac output () measurements using lithium dilution (LiDCO) and pulse contour analysis (PulseCO) techniques in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies before and during the administration of different inotropic/vasoactive drugs. Methods: Prospective randomized experimental cross-over trial. Methods: Six ponies aged 5.0 +/- 1.6 (4-6.5) years and weighing 286 +/- 53 (212-368) kg. Methods: After sedation (romifidine) and induction (midazolam + ketamine), anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. After 90 minutes (= T0), one of four treatments was administered: saline 0.1 mL kg(-1...
Keeling LJ, Jonare L, Lanneborn L.The heart rates (HR) of horses and the people leading them (10 horses, 20 people), and riding them (17 horses, 17 people), were recorded in an indoor arena. The horses were Swedish leisure horses of mixed ages, sex and breed. All except two of the people were female and all were of mixed age and riding experience. Each horse-human pair walked or rode between points A and B (30m) four times on each test occasion. However, just before the fourth pass, participants were told that an umbrella would be opened as they rode, or led, the horse past the assistant. The umbrella was not opened, so this p...
Murphy J.Eight horses were tested in a Y-maze to see if they would approach the side on which they had seen and heard food being delivered into a food trough. The horses were tested in five experimental contexts: immediate release (IR), delayed release 3s (3DR), 6s (6DR), 9s (9DR) and 12s (12DR) after food delivery. Individual subjects performed five IR trials, followed by five each of 3DR, 6DR, 9DR and 12DR trials. A re-rest was performed 1 week later. Data were analysed by log-linear analysis of frequencies. The results showed that the horses were capable of achieving the correct choice during IR tri...
Hanggi EB, Ingersoll JF.Scotopic vision in horses (Equus caballus) was investigated using behavioral measurements for the first time. Four horses were tested for the ability to make simple visual discriminations of geometric figures (circles and triangles) under various brightness levels within an enclosed building. Measurements of brightness ranging from 10.37 to 24.12 magnitudes per square arcsecond (mag/arcsec(2); in candelas per square meter-7.70 to 2.43E-05cd/m(2)) were taken using a Sky Quality Meter. These values approximated outdoor conditions ranging from twilight in open country to a dark moonless night in ...
Sasaki N, Tsuzuki N, Yamada M, Minami T, Yamada H.This study aimed to establish a standard dose and sample collection time for (13)C phenylalanine and (13)C-Dipeptide breath test in horses. To evaluate dose-dependent effects, healthy horses received 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg (13)C phenylalanine dissolved in 1 ml/kg distilled water and 1.25 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, and 5 mg/kg (13)C dipeptide dissolved in 2 ml/ kg distilled water. Tmax was observed during the sample collection time. For (13)C phenylalanine, the standard deviation of Cmax at 5 mg/kg was lower than that of 10 mg/kg. For (13)C dipeptide, the standard deviation of Tmax was the low...
Murphy J.This study investigated the effects of weighted boots on horses (n=6) jumping a 1.25 m oxer fence. The horses had similar training experience and were assigned to two groups of three subjects (groups G1 and G2). All horses performed 10 jumping efforts: G1 horses made attempts 1-5 without boots and 6-10 with boots; G2 made attempts 1-5 with boots and 6-10 without boots. Data were available via sagittal plane S-VHS recordings and t test analyses focussed on limb-placement dimensions. There were no differences among performances of the horses in the horizontal plane, but there were significant di...
Bortell R, Asquith RL, Edds GT, Simpson CF, Aller WW.Nineteen weanling ponies and 1 adult pony were given a single oral dose of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Dosages were: 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.4 mg of AFB1/kg of body weight. Vital signs were monitored, and whole blood and serum collected for analysis of serum enzymes, prothrombin time, blood cell counts, and serum urea nitrogen. Ponies that died were examined for gross lesions, and tissues were collected for histopathologic examination and analysis of AFB1 and AFM1 residues. Two of the 4 ponies given the 2 mg/kg dose and all ponies given the larger dosages died within 76 hours. Clinical signs inc...
Wolkowski DD, McCarthy RD, Schoonover MJ, Taylor JD, Eastman TG.Evaluate effects of acellular equine liquid amnion allograft (ELAA) injected into healthy equine joints. Methods: Randomized, blinded, controlled experiment. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses. Methods: One intercarpal joint (ICJ) of each horse was randomly assigned to be injected with 1.5 ml of ELAA (treatment) while the contralateral ICJ was injected with 1.5 ml of 0.9% NaCl (control). Subjective lameness evaluation, force plate analysis, and synovial fluid analysis, including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) analysis, were performed before (day 0) and at days 1, 3, 5, and 10. S...
Craig DP, Varnon CA, Pollock KL, Abramson CI.We assessed different measures of temporal control of horse (N=16) responding on fixed interval schedules of reinforcement and a peak procedure. Subjects were trained to insert their heads into a response hoop to break an infrared beam in order to receive horse treats from an automatic feeder. We analyzed cumulative response records, binned response levels, quarter life, latency to first response, breakpoint, and inter-response patterns of the fixed interval trials. To analyze the peak procedure trials, we performed a series of bin analyses. To avoid potential pitfalls associated with aggregat...
The Journal of physiologyJune 15, 1996
Volume 493 ( Pt 3), Issue Pt 3 885-894 doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021431
Ko WH, Chan HC, Chew SB, Wong PY.1. The ionic mechanism involved in Ca(2+)-stimulated electrolyte transport in cultured equine sweat gland epithelial cells was studied using the short-circuit current (ISC) technique. 2. Microscopy revealed that the cultured cells grown on Millipore filters formed polarized monolayers with tight junctions. Monolayers exhibited a mean transepithelial resistance of 333.9 +/- 40.4 omega cm2. 3. Ca(2+)-mobilizing agents, A23187 (1 microM) or thapsigargin (0.01-1 microM), stimulated ISC while forskolin exerted little effect on the ISC. 4. Replacement of external Cl- by gluconate significantly reduc...
Watt BC, Edwards RB, Markel MD, McCabe R, Wilson DG.To compare the biomechanical characteristics and mode of failure of 2 parallel-screw techniques for proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis in horses. Methods: Randomized block design, blocking for horse (1-5), method of screw fixation (three 4.5-mm vs two 5.5-mm), side (left limb vs right limb), and end (front limb vs hind limb). Constructs were loaded to failure in 3-point bending in a dorsal-to-palmar (plantar) direction. Methods: Twenty limbs (10 limb pairs) from 5 equine cadavers. Methods: A combined aiming device was used to facilitate consistent screw placement. Three parallel 4.5-mm...
Skärlina EM, Wilmink JM, Fall N, Gorvy DA.The success of primary healing of equine traumatic wounds is dependent on thorough debridement. A specific hydrosurgical debridement device (Versajet(TM) )(a) is gentle to viable tissues, yet effectively removes macroscopic contaminants and debris. We wished to investigate whether it is effective in reducing bacterial burden and whether it differs from traditional methods. No previous reports compare hydrosurgical debridement and conventional wound debridement with regard to bacterial reduction from in vitro inoculated soft tissue. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of hydrosurgical debrid...
Harkins JD, Mundy GD, Stanley SD, Sams RA, Tobin T.Sarapin is a distillate of the pitcher plant that has long been used in human and veterinary medicine for 'regional analgesia'. The mechanism of the reported analgesic response is unknown; however, the agent is purported to provide more effective analgesia for slow, chronic pain than for sharp, acute pain. Reportedly, Sarapin is also widely used as an analgesic agent in the horse, generally in combination with corticosteroids and other agents. To determine its local anaesthetic efficacy in the horse, we tested Sarapin in a unilateral abaxial sesamoid block model at two dose levels, 2 mL and 10...
Murphy JE, Marsh AE, Reed SM, Meadows C, Bolten K, Saville WJ.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious neurologic disease of horses caused primarily by the protozoal parasite Sarcocystis neurona. Currently available antemortem diagnostic testing has low specificity. The hypothesis of this study was that serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of horses experimentally challenged with S neurona would have an increased S neurona-specific IgM (Sn-IgM) concentration after infection, as determined by an IgM capture enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The ELISA was based on the S neurona low molecular weight protein SNUCD-1 antigen and the monoclonal an...
Sanclemente JL, Rivera-Velez SM, Dasgupta N, Horohov DW, Wood PL, Sanz MG.Many foals that develop thoracic ultrasonographic lesions as a result of Rhodococcus equi infection heal on their own. However, most of these foals receive antimicrobials because foals at risk of developing clinical pneumonia cannot be identified. Untargeted lipidomics is useful to identify candidate biomarkers. Objective: (a) To describe the changes that occur in foal lipidomics as a result of ageing (birth to 8 weeks) and (b) To compare these results with those observed in foals after experimental infection with R. equi. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Healthy newborn foals (n = 9) ...
Zarucco L, Swanstrom MD, Driessen B, Hawkins D, Hubbard M, Steffey EP, Stover SM.To develop and test an experimental model for in vivo short-term recording of peak isometric forces of the digital flexor muscles in the forelimb of adult horses. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Four healthy, anesthetized, adult Thoroughbred horses (3 to 7 years old; 527 +/- 87 kg) Methods: In dorsal recumbency, ulnar and median nerves were exposed and instrumented with insulated bipolar cuff stimulation electrodes for later connection to an electrical stimulator. In left lateral recumbency, a biplanar fixator was applied to the right humerus and a custom-made, rigid, aluminum fr...
Lee YH, Clarke KW, Alibhai HI.Clenbuterol (0.8 microg kg(-1) intravenously) was investigated in ponies (small horses) anaesthetised with acepromazine, detomidine and thiopentone, then halothane in oxygen alone (hyperoxic group) or with nitrous oxide (hypoxic group). Following instrumentation, ponies were placed in dorsal recumbency for 60 minutes, clenbuterol (both groups) or a saline control (hyperoxic group) given, and cardiopulmonary parameters monitored for a further 60 minutes. In the hyperoxic group, clenbuterol administration resulted in a transitory (<five minutes) 15 per cent fall in arterial blood pressure and...
Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR.Ponies and some horse breeds such as Andalusians exhibit an 'easy keeper' phenotype and tend to become obese more readily than other breeds such as Standardbreds. Various hypotheses have been proposed, including differences in appetite or metabolic efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of breed on nutrient digestibility. Ponies, Standardbreds and Andalusian horses were adapted to consuming either a control fibre-based diet ( = 9), a hypercaloric cereal-rich diet ( = 12) or a hypercaloric fat-rich diet ( = 12) over 20 weeks. Total faecal collection was performed over 24 h to de...
MacNicol JL, Murrant C, Pearson W.G's Formula is a novel equine feed additive formulated to promote optimal GI function. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of a simulated digest of the composite feed additive G's Formula (FA) would alter the contractile response of gastric smooth muscle to acetylcholine (Ach). Smooth muscle strips from porcine stomachs were excised and attached to an isometric force transducer. An experiment was run to compare tissue contraction between tissue exposed to FA (FA; n = 8, simulated digest of FA was added to the bath) and control tissue (CO; n = 8, no additions m...
Li H, Zou X, Springer M, Briest A, Lind M, Bünger C.Randomized and self-controlled study with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in a porcine model. Objective: To determine the osteoinductive potential of an equine bone protein extract in anterior interbody spinal fusion. Background: Interbody spinal fusion with bone graft transplantation is a common spine procedure. Complications related to bone graft harvesting are still a major concern. Equine demineralized bone matrix has been reported to be osteoinductive. However, the application of equine bone protein extract in spine fusion has not been documented. In this experiment, we evaluated equine ...
Reijerkerk EP, Visser EK, van Reenen CG, van der Kolk JH.To compare the effects of IV administration of various doses of ovine corticotrophin-releasing hormone (oCRH) on plasma and saliva cortisol concentrations in healthy horses and determine whether an oCRH challenge test protocol is valid for use in adult horses. Methods: 24 healthy Warmblood horses. PROCEDURES-Each horse received oCRH in saline (0.9% NaCl) via IV administration at a dose of 0 (control treatment), 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 Mg/kg (6 horses/group). Jugular blood and saliva samples were collected simultaneously 15 minutes before and immediately prior to injection (baseline); data from these...
Carrier SP, Bannister GL, Boulanger P.Twenty-nine lots of acetone-ether extracted liquid antigen were prepared from the pulp of 11 spleens collected from horses at the acute phase of experimental infection. The lots prepared from the highly reactive pulp resulted in general in a liquid antigen of greater activity than those extracted from weakly reactive pulps. Some variations in activity between lots of antigen prepared from the same spleen were also observed. No matter what the results, given a wide enough variation, all results were reproducible. The procedure permitted production of a greater number of antigen test doses from ...
Locke KB, McEwan DR, Hamdorf IJ.Horses and cattle fed swainsona (Swainsona canescens var horniana) over a period of 8 to 10 weeks lost condition and became incoordinated and hypersensitive. Histological examination of tissues from affected animals revealed the characteristic changes of widespread cellular vacuolation and axonal spheroids in the CNS. Cattle withdrawn from the toxic plant after being fed for varying periods up to 8 weeks returned to normal. Serum alpha-mannosidase activity declined significantly in cattle during the test period, whereas in horses that activity rose. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels increased ...
Matthews GL, Keegan KG, Graham HL.To determine effects of tendon grip technique on in vitro surface strain measurements of equine deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) when loaded in tension. Methods: 12 hind limb DDFT from 8 adult horses (mean age, 9.8 years [range, 4.5 to 17 years]; mean body weight, 472 kg [range, 450 to 509 kg]), with no clinical evidence of hind limb lameness. Methods: After calibration, liquid mercury strain gauges were sutured to plantar surfaces of the tendons at distal (position 1), middle (position 2), and proximal (position 3) metatarsal regions. Each tendon was affixed to a materials testing machine (d...
MacAllister CG, Sangiah S.Thirty young ponies were examined endoscopically for evidence of gastric ulceration. Seven ponies had noninduced gastric ulcers present at the initial examination and were eliminated from the study. In an attempt to induce gastric ulcers experimentally, flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 8 h) was administered for 7 days to the 23 ponies with endoscopically normal gastric mucosa. During the 7 days of flunixin administration, 11 ponies developed gastric ulcers that were appropriate for study. The 11 ponies were randomly allotted to 2 groups. Group-A (n = 5) and group-B (n = 6) p...
Fachal MV, Furlan M, Clark R, Card CE, Chedrese PJ.The objective of this investigation was to clone and express the elk and horse common alpha-subunit and FSH beta-subunit cDNAs, and to produce recombinant FSH from both species in vitro. The RNAs extracted from elk and horse pituitary glands were reverse-transcribed and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The cDNAs corresponding to both subunits of elk and horse were cloned into the expression vector pBudCE4.1 and transfected into CRL-9096 cells. Expression of both genes was determined in the transfected cells by Northern and Western blot analysis. Recombinant elk and horse FSH secreted in...
Morillo-Rodríguez A, Macías-García B, Tapia JA, Ortega-Ferrusola C, Peña FJ.Ejaculates from six pure Spanish stallions were split, and one subsample frozen in a commercial extender supplemented with the lipid soluble antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), while the other subsample served as control. After at least 4 weeks of storage, samples were thawed and post-thaw sperm quality analysed: sperm motility and kinematics using a CASA system, membrane and acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential using flow cytometry. The outcome of cryopreservation varied significantly among stallions. However, the supplementation with 1 mm BHT had no significant eff...
Moorman VJ, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM.To compare the efficacy and duration of action for perineural analgesia with liposomal bupivacaine (LB) versus bupivacaine hydrochloride (BHCl) in a sole-pressure induced model of forelimb lameness in horses. Methods: 6 healthy adult research horses. Methods: In 1 randomly assigned forelimb, grade 3/5 lameness was induced by use of a sole-pressure lameness model. Objective lameness (vector sum [VS]) was determined with an inertial sensor system at 0, 1, 6, and 24 hours after lameness induction to evaluate the model. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and objective lameness (VS and force ...
Bulone V, Rademaker GJ, Pergantis S, Krogstad-Johnsen T, Smestad-Paulsen B, Thomas-Oates J.Separation of horse dander allergens using two-dimensional PAGE resulted in the identification of 16 proteins that react with allergic patient sera. A sensitive method has been developed for analysing the structures of the glycan chains of individual glycoprotein allergens transferred to blots following two-dimensional PAGE, and has allowed the structural identification of the glycan chains of the most abundant isoforms of Equ c 1, a glycosylated horse dander major allergen. The method involves separation of the allergens by two-dimensional PAGE, transfer to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes...
Kamel M, Pavulraj S, Osterrieder K, Azab W.Primary infection and pathogenesis of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) require an intricate interaction of virus with the mucosal epithelium, mononuclear cells and the vascular endothelium. Studies on EHV-1 have been facilitated by the development of different models that recapitulate the tissue complexity. The available assays can be categorized into (i) models mimicking the epithelium-peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) interaction, which include mucosal (nasal and vaginal) explants and equine respiratory epithelial cells (EREC) cultures; and (ii) PBMC-endothelium mimicking models,...
Morillo Rodriguez A, Balao da Silva C, Macías-García B, Gallardo Bolaños JM, Tapia JA, Aparicio IM, Ortega-Ferrusola C, Peña FJ.A total of 42 ejaculates were used in the experiment; six ejaculates per stallion, obtained from seven Pure Spanish stallions (PRE), were split and frozen in freezing media with different concentrations and combinations of cryoprotectant (CPA): (i) Cáceres (skim milk based extender) containing 2.5% glycerol (2.5GL), (ii) Cáceres containing 1.5% glycerol and 1.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL-1.5%DMFA), (iii) Cáceres extender supplemented with 1.5% glycerol and 2.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL-2.5%DMFA) and (iv) Cáceres extender supplemented with 4% dimethylformamide (4%DMFA). After at least 4 we...
Ferlazzo A, Medica P, Cravana C, Fazio E.Involvement of thyroid function on performance warrants further investigation as limited data exists on the effects of showjumping on the dynamics of total and free iodothyronines. Objective: To investigate the response of circulating total and free iodothyronines in horses to experimental showjumping sessions and compare with the effects normally induced by competition and determine if fence height has any effect. Methods: Using a randomised crossover study design 6 trained horses were studied during experimental showjumping sessions over 10 fences of different height: 1.00 m (Session 1), 1.1...
Guillaume D, Chavatte-Palmer P, Combarnous Y, Duchamp G, Martinat N, Nagy P, Daels PF.The aim of this study was to compare the effects of treatment with repeated injections of sulpiride (a dopamine D2 antagonist) on prolactin secretion and induced lactation in ovariectomized and intact adult mares and to verify if this induction was possible at the beginning and at the end of the birth season. Two experiments were carried out in September [experiment (expt) 1], and in March (expt 2), in France (48 degrees N). In expt 1, three groups of five mares were tested: intact-control, intact-treated and ovariectomized-treated mares. In expt 2, mares previously subjected to artificial pho...
Burns TA, Westerman T, Nuovo GJ, Watts MR, Pettigrew A, Yin C, Belknap JK.Oxidative stress reportedly plays a role in sepsis-induced organ dysfunction and failure in many species. In septic horses, laminae are targeted; evidence of laminar oxidative stress has been reported experimentally in the black walnut extract (BWE) model. Carbohydrate (CHO)-induced laminitis may be more similar to clinical sepsis-related laminitis than the BWE model in that animals with CHO-induced disease commonly develop laminar failure. The role of oxidative stress in the CHO model remains unknown. Objective: Markers of oxidative stress will be increased in laminae from horses with BWE- an...
Pérez R, Godoy C, Palma C, Muñoz L, Arboix M, Alvinerie M.A study was done to compare plasma disposition kinetics and the fecal elimination profile of doramectin (DRM) after oral or intramuscular (IM) administration in horses. Ten clinically healthy horses, 328-502 kg body weight (bw), were assigned to 2 experimental groups of 5 horses each. Group 1 was treated with an oral dose of 0.2 mg DRM/kg bw, while Group 2 was treated with 0.2 mg DRM/kg bw by IM route. Blood and fecal samples were collected at different times between 0.5h and 60 days post-treatment. After plasma and fecal drug extraction and derivatization, samples were analysed by high perfor...
Morgan J, Stefanovski D, Lenfest M, Chatterjee S, Orsini J.Digital cryotherapy is commonly used for laminitis prophylaxis and treatment. Currently validated methods for distal limb cryotherapy involve wet application or compression technology. There is a need for a practical, affordable, dry cryotherapy method that effectively cools the digit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hoof wall surface temperatures (HWSTs) achieved with a novel dry cryotherapy technology. Methods: Repeated-measures in vivo experimental study. Methods: Experimental intervention at a single site. Methods: 6 systemically healthy horses (3 mares, 3 geldings). Method...
