"Horses" is a broad topic that encompasses various aspects of equine biology, behavior, and management. This category includes studies on the anatomy, physiology, and genetics of horses, as well as their behavior, nutrition, and care. Research in this area may also cover the historical and cultural significance of horses, their roles in agriculture, sport, and therapy, and the challenges associated with their conservation and welfare. The page aggregates peer-reviewed research articles and scholarly studies that explore the multifaceted relationships between humans and horses, examining both scientific and socio-economic perspectives.
Bjørnstad G, Nilsen NØ, Røed KH.Human populations of Central Asian origin have contributed genetic material to northern European populations. It is likely that migrating humans carried livestock to ensure food and ease transportation. Thus, eastern genes could also have dispersed to northern European livestock populations. Using microsatellite data, we here report that the essentially different genetic distances DA and (deltamu)2 and their corresponding phylogenetic trees show close associations between the Mongolian native horse and northern European horse breeds. The genetic distances between the northern European breeds a...
Crespo MJ, Abarca ML, Cabañes FJ.During a study on the occurrence of Malassezia spp. in 112 animals (50 horses, 25 goats, 25 sheep and 12 cows), Malassezia spp. were isolated from 60% of horses, 28% of sheep, 44% of goats and 58% of cows. In these animals, the occurrence of lipid-dependent species (42%) was much greater than the occurrence observed for M. pachydermatis (3%). Among the results obtained, we point out the first isolation of M. sympodialis, M. globosa and M. restricta from sheep, M. pachydermatis, M. furfur, M. sympodialis, M. obtusa, M. globosa and M. restricta from goats and M. furfur, M. slooffiae, M. obtusa, ...
McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, McDiarmid AM, Patterson-Kane JC.This paper describes four cases of equine polysaccharide storage myopathy which were confirmed by histological examination of muscle biopsy specimens. The horses were of mixed breeding, with warmblood and thoroughbred dominating. They all had recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis, indicated by clinical signs and increased plasma levels of muscle enzymes. They were managed conservatively and have continued athletic careers despite their disease.
Hirata H, Xuan X, Yokoyama N, Nishikawa Y, Fujisaki K, Suzuki N, Igarashi I.The efficacy of the Be82 gene product fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST/Be82) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of Babesia equi infection was reported previously (H. Hirata et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 40:1470-1474, 2002). However, the ELISA with the GST/Be82 antigen cross-reacted with Babesia caballi-infected horse sera, despite the high rate of detection of B. equi. These results suggested that GST/Be82 has an antigen in common with B. caballi or antigenicity similar to that of B. caballi. In the present study, we constructed a series of five clones wit...
Zheng J, Guo JG, Wang XF, Zhu HQ.To study the relationship between the livestock trade and schistosomiasis transmission and to provide an evidence for making a strategy of schistosomiasis control in mountainous areas. Methods: A retrospective survey and analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in both humans and livestock (cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs), and the number and migration of livestock in Weishan County, Yunnan Province in 1980-1991. Results: A positive correlation was found between the infection rate of residents and the numbers of livestock migration (R = 0.9151, P < 0.0...
Dumasia MC.The in vivo phase I biotransformation of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone in the horse leads to the formation of a complex mixture of regio- and stereoisomeric C(20)O(2), C(20)O(3) and C(20)O(4) metabolites, excreted in urine as glucuronide and sulphate phase II conjugates. The major pathways of in vivo metabolism are the reduction of the A-ring (di- and tetrahydro), epimerisation at C-17 and oxidations mainly at C-6 and C-16. Some phase I metabolites have been identified previously by positive ion electron ionisation capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/EI + MS) mainly from the chara...
Tesfaigzi Y.Exposure of airways to environmental toxins or allergens induces proliferation of epithelial cells. Depending on the type of exposure, existing and newly formed cells can differentiate into mucus-producing cells resulting in mucous cell metaplasia (MCM). During recovery, the epithelium reduces the number of epithelial cells to return to the original state. Understanding the mechanisms involved in this resolution could be useful in deleting mucous cells and, thereby, mucous secretions. We have found that metaplastic mucous cells induced by exposure to ozone, endotoxin, cigarette smoke or allerg...
Gilger BC, Pizzirani S, Johnston LC, Urdiales NR.A hydroxyapatite orbital implant was used after enucleation of an eye from a 5-year-old performance horse. A custom-made corneoscleral prosthesis was made and fitted over the hydroxyapatite implant. The implant and surgery were well tolerated. Placement of a cosmetic prosthesis is desired after enucleation of equine eyes to allow horses to return to competition. Synthetic spheres consisting of methylmethacrylate or silicone have been used, although reported complications have included extrusion, infection, and poor cosmetic results. Hydroxyapatite orbital implants made from marine coral allow ...
Frye MA, Bright JM, Dargatz DA, Fettman MJ, Frisbie DD, Baker DC, Traub-Dargatz JL.This study was done to determine whether administration of dobutamine would produce echocardiographic and electrocardiographic alterations comparable to those induced by treadmill exercise in healthy horses. Fourteen horses received maximal treadmill exercise and, separately, intravenous dobutamine infusion up to a maximum rate of 50 microg/kg/min. Ten of the 14 horses were euthanized, and the myocardial tissues were examined grossly and histopathologically. No significant differences were found in the chronotropic effects of dobutamine and exercise (P = .905). Dobutamine induced greater inter...
Kettner NU, Parker JE, Watrous BJ.A 2-week-old Morgan filly examined because of lameness of 5 days' duration was found, on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, to have septic physitis of the distal end of the radius. The foal was treated by means of intraosseous regional perfusion with penicillin and amikacin and systemic administration of antimicrobials. Intraosseous regional perfusion was performed 3 times. The foal was anesthetized for the first episode of intraosseous regional perfusion, but was only sedated for the subsequent 2 episodes. Antimicrobials were administered systemically for 22 days. Foals with sep...
Berezowski C.A 14-year-old quarter horse mare had a 2-year history of infertility and the presence of a mass in the right uterine horn. Prior to surgery, the mass was determined to be invasive by using ultrasonography and hysteroscopy. A partial ovariohysterectomy was performed. The mass was diagnosed histologically as a uterine leiomyoma.
Bugno M, Klukowska J, Słota E, Tischner M, Switoński M.A sex-reversal syndrome appears frequently in the horse. The mare carriers of this syndrome lack of SRY gene. It is suggested that sex-reversal syndrome is probably caused by transfer of the SRY gene from Y to the X chromosome, due to abnormal meiotic exchange. The aim of the study was molecular analysis of the Y-linked genes in a case of the sex-reversed infertile mare with 64,XY karyotype. The karyotype was established on the basis of analysis of 350 metaphase spreads stained by CBG banding. Molecular analysis of the loci assigned to the Y chromosome revealed absence of the SRY gene and pres...
Beck NF, Khalid M, Charles JM, Abbas SK, Care AD.The objective of the present study was to determine whether parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is present in the equine follicular fluid and if so, how it is related to the follicular development in the horse. For this purpose, ovaries were collected from 40 Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred Cross mares at slaughter during the period from February to May. Normal growing follicles were dissected from the ovaries of each mare and their diameters measured. A total of 174 follicles was used in this study. The follicular fluid was aspirated from each follicle and assayed for PTHrP, oestradiol ...
Manohar M, Goetz TE, Hassan AS.It is reported that preexercise hyperhydration caused arterial O(2) tension of horses performing submaximal exercise to decrease further by 15 Torr (Sosa-Leon L, Hodgson DR, Evans DL, Ray SP, Carlson GP, and Rose RJ. Equine Vet J Suppl 34: 425-429, 2002). Because hydration status is important to optimal athletic performance and thermoregulation during exercise, the present study examined whether preexercise induction of hypervolemia would similarly accentuate the arterial hypoxemia in Thoroughbreds performing short-term high-intensity exercise. Two sets of experiments (namely, control and hype...
Cohen ND, Carey VJ, Donahue JG, Seahorn JL, Donahoe JK, Williams DM, Harrison LR.To identify factors associated with abortions of mares during late gestation attributed to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 282 broodmares from 62 farms in central Kentucky, including 137 mares that had late-term abortions (LTAs) associated with MRLS, 98 mares from the same farms that did not abort, and 48 mares that aborted from causes other than MRLS. Methods: Farm managers were interviewed to obtain data on a wide range of management practices and environmental exposures for the mares. Data for case and control horses were compared to identify ri...
Gläser KE, Davies ME, Jeffcott LB.This study was designed to examine a new role for cysteine proteinases in the process of endochondral ossification. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and distribution of cathepsin B and cathepsin L in equine articular cartilage during development. Methods: Full-depth cartilage samples from a total of 40 horses (age range: 4 month fetuses to 2 years) were examined and enzymes detected by immunocytochemical localisation. Results: Observations on the presence of cathepsins B and L revealed significant age-related differences, resulting in clear division of th...
Tomlinson JE, Sage AM, Turner TA.The pelvis is covered with extensive musculature and often presents a challenge in diagnostic imaging. Ultrasonography provides diagnostic information about soft tissue, articular cartilage and bone surfaces, although little information exists about the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the equine sacroiliac region. Objective: To determine the clinical applicability of ultrasonographic examination in horses with sacroiliac pain. Methods: Horses presented to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching Hospital for hindlimb lameness were evaluated and lower limb lameness was ruled out wi...
Ruohoniemi M, Ahtiainen H, Ojala M.Ossification of the cartilages in the foot is common in coldblooded horses, but prevalence as well as ossification pattern varies between breeds; research on estimation of heritability for the condition has been limited. Objective: Our purpose was to calculate estimates of 1) heritability for ossification parameters of the cartilages in the front feet of the Finnhorse and 2) genetic correlations between the different ossification parameters. Methods: Estimates of heritability for different ossification parameters of the cartilages in the front feet and of genetic correlations between different...
Schambourg MA, Laverty S, Mullim S, Fogarty UM, Halley J.Thoracic trauma occurs in newborn foals and may cause associated clinical signs; this condition remains poorly documented. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the pathological features of thoracic trauma in newborn foals presented for necropsy examination between 1990 and 2000. Methods: Necropsy reports of foals with thoracic trauma from 1990-2000 were reviewed. Subject details, clinical signs, thoracic and abdominal lesions were noted and analysed statistically. Results: Sixty-seven (9%) of 760 necropsied foals had thoracic trauma. In 19 foals, fractured ribs were considered ...
van Weeren PR, Knaap J, Firth EC.To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Objective: There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested. Methods: Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar...
Mills DS, Taylor K.Thirty-six owners of seasonally headshaking horses took part in a trial to compare the effectiveness of three types of nose net, a traditional cylindrical net (full net) and two forms of larger mesh nets which cover only the nostrils and dorsorostral muzzle (half nets). Baseline data relating to the overall severity of the problem and 18 specific behaviours describing the nature of the problem were recorded on a check sheet by the owners. A within-subjects repeated measures design experiment, with each net used for a week before reassessment, was then used to assess the effect of the nets on t...
Dyson S, Murray R, Schramme M, Branch M.Foot pain is a common cause of equine lameness and there have been significant limitations of the methods available for the diagnosis of the causes of foot pain (radiography, nuclear scintigraphy and ultrasonography). Until recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the horse has been limited to examination of cadaver limbs. Objective: Our purpose was to 1) describe MRI of the foot in live horses, 2) describe MRI findings in horses with foot pain in which a definitive diagnosis could not be established by alternative means and 3) correlate MRI findings with other methods of clinical investi...
Prince D, Corcoran BM, Mayhew IG.Equine grass sickness is a dysautonomia characterised by widespread destruction of autonomic ganglia, resulting in the clinical signs of dysphagia, constipation, profuse sweating, tachycardia, rhinitis sicca and high mortality rate. Rhinitis sicca is a common finding in horses with the chronic form and we have postulated that alterations in autonomic innervation of the nasal mucosa might underlie this clinical presentation. Objective: In this study, the expression and distribution of nerve fibres immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), the general neuronal ...
Froscher BG, Nagode LA.The origin of increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in peritoneal fluid (PF) of horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain was investigated to determine the usefulness of measuring ALP in PF in the diagnosis of small intestinal injury. The ALP isoenzymes in PF from 10 clinically normal horses and from 50 horses with clinical signs of acute abdominal pain were analyzed for their sensitivities to inhibition by L-phenylalanine, L-homoarginine, and levamisole and to inactivation by heat (56 C, 15 minutes). The enzymes also were discriminated by their patterns of migration during polyacry...
Bronstein A, Marx A.Comparison of myoglobin structures reveals that protein isolated from horse heart consistently adopts an alternate turn conformation in comparison to its homologues. Analysis of hundreds of high-resolution structures discounts crystallization conditions or the surrounding amino acid protein environment as explaining this difference, that is also not captured by the AlphaFold prediction. Rather, a water molecule is identified as stabilizing the conformation in the horse heart structure, which immediately reverts to the whale conformation in molecular dynamics simulations excluding that structur...
Kondampati KD, Saini SPS, Sidhu PK, Anand A, Kumar D, Beesam S, Bedi JS, Kaur R, Bhardwaj R.The pharmacokinetics of ampicillin-cloxacillin, given as single intravenously dose of 10 mg.kg-1 (5 mg.kg-1 of ampicillin plus 5 mg.kg-1 of cloxacillin) was examined in clinically presented Indian thoroughbred horses (n = 6) in order to design appropriate dosing strategies. Drug concentrations in plasma were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by non-compartmental analysis using WinNonlin software. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ampicillin-cloxacillin against qualit...
Owen R, Maxie LL.Quadriplegia of 4 days' duration in a 3-week-old foal was caused by displacement of the dens of the axis due to a fracture at the dens growth plate. The displacement was reduced and was immobilized surgically. Two months after surgery, the foal was able to rise, walk, and trot without apparent neurologic deficiencies. Three years later, the only defect was a mild gait disturbance in the left hindlimb seen at a canter and a gallop.
Barakzai SZ, Finnegan C, Dixon PM, Hillyer MH, Boden LA.The prevalence of the use of tongue ties, calculated from 60 randomly selected race meetings held in the UK during 2001 to 2003, was 5.0 per cent. After its first use on an individual horse a tongue tie was used in an average of 77 per cent of its races during the first 12 months, but after this time period, in only 55 per cent of its races. Thirty-nine per cent of horses that underwent surgery for dorsal displacement of the soft palate raced with a tongue tie preoperatively, and 41 per cent of these surgical cases raced with a tongue tie postoperatively.
Decloedt A.Pericardial, myocardial, and great vessel diseases are relatively rare in horses. The clinical signs are often nonspecific and vague, or related to the underlying cause. Physical examination usually reveals tachycardia, fever, venous distension or jugular pulsation, a weak or bounding arterial pulse, ventral edema, and abnormal cardiac auscultation such as arrhythmia, murmur, or muffled heart sounds. The prognosis depends on the underlying cause and the disease progression, and ranges from full recovery to poor prognosis for survival. This article focuses on the etiology, diagnosis, prognosis,...
Mason ME, Voris ND, Ortis HA, Geeding AA, Kaplan RM.To compare larvicidal regimens of fenbendazole and moxidectin for reduction and suppression of cyathostomin fecal egg counts (FEC) in a transient herd of embryo transfer-recipient mares. Methods: Randomized, complete block, clinical trial. Methods: 120 mares from 21 states, residing on 1 farm. Methods: An initial fecal sample was collected from each mare; mares with an FEC ≥ 200 eggs/g were assigned to treatment groups. Eighty-two horses received fenbendazole (10.0 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h for 5 days) or moxidectin (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], PO, once); FEC data were analyzed 14, 45, and 9...
Slater R, Frau A, Hodgkinson J, Archer D, Probert C.Anoplocephala perfoliata is a common equine tapeworm associated with an increased risk of colic (abdominal pain) in horses. Identification of parasite and intestinal microbiota interactions have consequences for understanding the mechanisms behind parasite-associated colic and potential new methods for parasite control. A. perfoliata was diagnosed by counting of worms in the caecum post-mortem. Bacterial DNA was extracted from colonic contents and sequenced targeting of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). The volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolome of colonic contents was characterised using gas...
Du Toit N, Kempson SA, Dixon PM.Ten normal cheek teeth (CT) were extracted at post mortem from donkeys that died or were euthanased for humane reasons. Decalcified histology was performed on three sections (sub-occlusal, mid-tooth and pre-apical) of each tooth, and undecalcified histology undertaken on sub-occlusal sections of the same teeth. The normal histological anatomy of primary, regular and irregular secondary dentine was found to be similar to that of the horse, with no tertiary dentine present. Undecalcified histology demonstrated the normal enamel histology, including the presence of enamel spindles. Scanning elect...
Törneke MK, Ingvast-Larsson JC, Johansson JM, Appelgren LE.To determine pharmacokinetics of terbutaline in healthy horses and to relate serum terbutaline concentrations with the drug's pharmacodynamic effects. Methods: 6 healthy horses. Methods: Horses were given terbutaline i.v. (10 microg/kg of body weight) and, 1 week later, p.o. (100 microg/kg). Responses to drug administration (eg, heart rate and serum lactate concentration) were measured. Serum terbutaline concentration was measured by means of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Protein binding was determined in vitro. Results: Following i.v. administration, median maximum serum terbutal...
Lofgren EA, Rice BMG, Brady CM.Horse welfare is a sensitive topic that often results in a variety of strong feelings when discussed in the horse-owning public. This study used a scenario-based questionnaire in a positive psychology approach to assess the public's feelings and discussions about horse welfare. Results indicated themes in important welfare qualities such as turnout, shelter, and ability to express natural behaviors, as well as a positive discussion about welfare. This study provides future implications for further research techniques in this area as well as communicative strategies surrounding equine welfare p...
Ford EJ, Simmons HA.The production of propionate in the caecum of the horse has been measured in two Shetland-type ponies fitted with caecal and colonic cannulas and fed on hay or on hay and wheat bran. A continuous intracaecal infusion of 14C-labelled sodium propionate was used and samples were obtained from a cannula at the origin of the right ventral colon. A simultaneous intravenous infusion of [2-3H]glucose was used to measure total glucose entry. On a hay diet which provided 177 kJ/kg body-weight per d, mean caecal propionate production was 19.6 (range 17.2-21.2) mg/h per kg body-weight and on a hay and whe...
Lovsin E, Fazarinc G, Pogacnik A, Bavdek SV.A typical body format of Slovenian Lipizzan horse was investigated. The study included 6 foals (5 colts and 1 filly) at the Lipica stud farm. They were measured from birth to twenty-seven months and again at forty-four months of age. Measurements included body length, chest circumference, withers height and body mass. All those measurements were statistically evaluated and compared to some other horse breeds to determine the similarity of the growth dynamics of those horse breeds. It was concluded that the parameters of the head and neck reached their full growth at the age of 27 months and al...
Lee D, May K, Faramarzi B.Laminitis is a common but critical disease that causes severe pain and disability in horses. The etiology and pathogenesis of laminitis remain inconclusive and a multimodal therapeutic approach is generally indicated. Acupuncture has been used as a treatment option; however, the required number of treatments is still controversial due to the lack of objective scientific evidence. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the response to a second acupuncture treatment differed from the response to the first acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis. Methods: Fourte...
Schuster RK, Sivakumar S.Although the life cycle of the equid stomach parasite Habronema muscae was disclosed more than 100 years ago, little is known about the effect of the developing nematode larvae in its intermediate host, Musca domestica. In a series of experiments, freshly hatched M. domestica larvae were exposed to H. muscae eggs contained in a faecal sample of a naturally infected horse. In daily intervals, 50 fly larvae were removed and transferred on a parasite-free larval rearing medium where they completed their development. Hatched flies were examined for the presence of Habronema third-stage larvae. In...
Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE, Nieto JE.OBJECTIVE To compare clinical findings and short-term outcome for horses with intestinal entrapment in the gastrosplenic ligament (GLE) with those of horses with intestinal entrapment in the epiploic foramen (EFE). DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. ANIMALS 43 horses with GLE (cases) and 73 horses with EFE (controls). PROCEDURES Medical records of horses examined because of colic at a veterinary teaching hospital between 1992 and 2012 were reviewed. Signalment was extracted from medical records for all horses with colic (colic population), and additional information regarding colic histo...
Rijkenhuizen AB, Sinclair D, Jahn W.Aortoiliac thrombosis (AIT) is a progressive vascular disease characterised by an exercise-induced hindlimb lameness. After developing a surgical technique, a follow-up study was required. Objective: To assess the surgical results of a surgical thrombectomy in horses with AIT, a chronic arterial occlusive disease of the aorta and its caudal arteries. Methods: Seventeen cases showed the typical signs of AIT and diagnosis was confirmed by Doppler-ultrasonography. Average age of the horses was 12 years. Seven stallions, 6 mares and 4 geldings were included. Results: The thrombus was located in th...
Stark G, Schneider B, Gemeiner M.Zinc concentration has been shown to have a potent immunomodulatory capacity, particularly influencing T helper cell organisation and cytokine secretion. Culicoides hypersensitivity (CHS) in horses resembles the early and late phase of type I hypersensitive reactions in man, characterised by a shift from T helper cell subtype 1 to T helper cell subtype 2 cytokine profile. In this pilot study, zinc and copper levels were measured in the plasma of 48 CHS-affected and 56 healthy Icelandic horses age 4-25 years (mean approximately 11 years) kept on 7 farms. Affected horses were divided into 3 grou...
Tosi I, Bureau F, Farnir F, Denoix JM, Lekeux P, Art T.Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG-ODN) has been described as a potent immunostimulatory agent in different species. No study reported the effect of a P-class CpG when administered systemically in healthy horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and the effect of an intramuscularly administered P-class CpG-ODN on hematology and on plasma cytokines (IFN-α, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in 8 healthy horses. Intra-muscular CpG-ODN or placebo (PBS) was administered twice at a 7 days-interval. Groups were inversed after 2 months of washout period. A physical examination, complete bloo...
Bolt DM, Carrier ME, Sheridan KS, Manso-Diaz G, Berner D.Foot imbalance and malalignment of the digits are common in horses. Angle and distance measurements performed on bones, joints and hoof wall on radiographs provide essential guidance for precise corrective trimming and shoeing. This study aimed to investigate, if selected standing low-field magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used to accurately measure dorsopalmar and lateromedial foot conformation parameters in comparison to the radiographic gold standard. Images of 100 horses referred for standing low-field MR examination were selected. Foot conformation angles and distances were measured ...
Miller SK.1. Results of laboratory experiments which compared horse and human serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) with respect to their acid inactivation and ammonium sulfate protection show: 2. Horse serum butyrylcholinesterase is more resistant to inactivation at pH 3.0 than human serum butyrylcholinesterase. 3. The loss of activity at pH 3.0 for both horse and human butyrylcholinesterase does not follow first order kinetics. 4. Both human and horse serum butyrylcholinesterase are protected from pH 3.0 inactivation by ammonium sulfate concentrations up to 33% saturation (1.37 M).
Esteller-Vico A, Liu IK, Vaughan B, Steffey EP, Brosnan RJ.Uterine vascular elastosis in mares is characterized by degeneration of uterine vasculature through thickening of the elastin layers. Factors commonly associated with this degeneration include age, parity, and chronic uterine endometritis. Affected mares have also been shown to exhibit decreases in uterine blood flow and perfusion of the uterus. Due to the increased thickness of the elastin layers, we hypothesize that vasodilatation of the uterine vasculature is also impaired. To test the functionality of these vessels, we evaluated the vasodilatory effects of estradiol on the uterine vascular...
Klomkleaw W, Kasashima Y, Fuller GA, Kobayashi A, Yoshihara T, Oikawa MA, Izumisawa Y, Yamaguchi M.An anatomical study of horse lumbrical muscle (Lm) was carried out by light and electron microscopy in combination with immunochemical and cytochemical methods. Paraffin sections were subjected to haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Masson's trichrome staining for morphometric analysis. Paraffin sections were also used for immunostaining by anti-PGP 9.5 for reaction with nerve-protein associated-structures, anti-heat-shock protein 70 (hsp 70) for detection of gene expression changes, anti-fast myosin for the determination of muscle fibre types, and for detection of apoptotic gene expression...
Solé M, Valera M, Gómez MD, Cervantes I, Fernández J.Limiting the inbreeding rate (∆F) while maximizing genetic gain for any trait of economic interest is especially important in small populations of local breeds, like the Menorca Horse. In this breed, dressage performance is important for the profitability of the breed and should be accounted in the selection criterion. The aim of this study was to assess if a breeding programme aiming at improved dressage performance is feasible in such a small breed. To perform the analysis, animals that were currently available for breeding (between 3 and 20 years) were used. Selection was based on the es...
