Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found in various tissues and fluids of horses, including synovial fluid, cartilage, and skin. It is involved in maintaining the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid, contributing to joint lubrication and shock absorption. Hyaluronic acid is often studied for its role in joint health and its potential therapeutic applications in managing equine osteoarthritis and other joint-related conditions. Research explores its physiological functions, the effects of supplementation or intra-articular injections, and its impact on equine locomotion and performance. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the biological properties, therapeutic potential, and clinical applications of hyaluronic acid in equine medicine.
Sotelo EDP, Vendruscolo CP, Fülber J, Seidel SRT, Jaramillo FM, Agreste FR, Silva LCLCD, Baccarin RYA.Several studies in human and equine medicine have produced controversial results regarding the role of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a therapeutic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of joint lavage with different DMSO concentrations on biomarkers of synovial fluid inflammation and cartilage degradation in joints with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis. Twenty-six tibiotarsal joints of 13 horses were randomly distributed into four groups (lactated Ringer's solution; 5% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; and sham). All animals were evaluated for the prese...
Matheson A, Regmi SC, Martin-Alarcon L, Jay GD, Scott WM, Schmidt TA.: In experimental models of equine joint-injury and osteoarthritis synovial fluid (SF) composition (proteoglycan-4, hyaluronan) can vary, along with changes to SF mechanical function (lubrication, viscosity). The study hypotheses were a) clinical equine joint-injury and disease results in altered SF composition and diminished mechanical function, and b) serum composition (proteoglycan-4 or hyaluronan) changes concurrently. The objectives were to characterize composition (proteoglycan-4, hyaluronan), and function of SF and serum from normal horses compared to clinical groups: osteoarthritis, ac...
de Souza AF, Paretsis NF, De Zoppa ALDV.A systematic review was conducted to investigate evidence to support or refute the use of hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel as intra-articular therapy in equines, which are frequent treatment options in the routine of veterinarians of equines in cases of osteoarthritis. In total, 19 studies were included, among clinical and in vitro studies, as well as a retrospective series of cases. The outcomes of the included studies provided fragile evidence supporting the recommendation for intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid. No study was included showing any clinical outcome in diseased s...
Neuenschwander HM, Moreira JJ, Vendruscolo CP, Fülber J, Seidel SRT, Michelacci YM, Baccarin RYA.The intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the treatment of synovitis and osteoarthritis is still controversial. As a consequence, corticosteroids remain the most frequently employed therapeutic agents, despite their potential systemic and local deleterious effects. This study examined the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chondroprotective activities of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA and HMW-HA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis in horses compared to triamcinolone acetonide (TA). LPS was injected in the metacarpophalangeal joints, which were treat...
Johnston GCA, Wood KA, Jackson KV, Perkins NR, Zedler ST.Intra-articular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) is commonly used to treat equine arthritis. Inflammatory response or "joint flare" is a recognized potential side effect. However, the incidence and severity of inflammation following IA HA injection in horses is not well documented. This study compared the effects of two IA HA formulations of different molecular weight (MW) and a saline control on clinical signs and synovial fluid markers of inflammation in normal equine joints. Eight adult horses each had three healthy fetlock joints randomly assigned to treatment with either 1.4 mega Dalton HA, 0.8 ...
Gupta RC, Lall R, Srivastava A, Sinha A.Hyaluronic acid (also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate) is naturally found in many tissues and fluids, but more abundantly in articular cartilage and synovial fluid (SF). Hyaluronic acid (HA) content varies widely in different joints and species. HA is a non-sulfated, naturally occurring non-protein glycosaminoglycan (GAG), with distinct physico-chemical properties, produced by synoviocytes, fibroblasts, and chondrocytes. HA has an important role in the biomechanics of normal SF, where it is partially responsible for lubrication and viscoelasticity of the SF. The concentration of HA and its ...
Tyrnenopoulou PC, Rizos ED, Kritsepi-Konstantinou M, Papadopoulou PL, Patsikas MN, Papazoglou LG, Aggeli A, Diakakis NE.To determine whether differences existed in the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid samples from the metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joints of orthopedically normal athletic horses. Methods: 45 warmblood horses and 30 Thoroughbreds (age range, 4 to 16 years). Methods: Synovial fluid samples were aseptically obtained via arthrocentesis from 1 metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joint of each horse, and nucleated cell counts were performed. A commercial ELISA was used to measure sample hyaluronic acid concentrations, and full rheologica...
Feeney E, Peal BT, Inglis JE, Su J, Nixon AJ, Bonassar LJ, Reesink HL.The objective of this study was to examine temporal variations in synovial fluid composition and lubrication following articular fracture. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) was induced by creating an osteochondral fracture in the middle carpal joint of four horses while the contralateral limb served as a sham-operated control. Horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill, and synovial fluid was collected pre-operatively and at serial timepoints until 75 days post-operatively. Lubricin and hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations were measured using sandwich ELISAs, and the molecular weight di...
Smith LCR, Wylie CE, Palmer L, Ramzan PHL.There are few observational studies regarding the potentially serious complication of synovial sepsis following intrasynovial medication in general equine practice. Quantification of risk is fundamental to fully inform decision-making and owner consent prior to undertaking procedures. Objective: To describe the occurrence of synovial sepsis following intrasynovial injections in a large ambulatory equine practice between 2006-2011. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medication records were cross-referenced against synovial cytology submissions and hospital admissions for synovial sep...
Machin J, Duer W, Maylin G, Fenger C, Wilson D, Ivey M, Berthold B, Allison S, Tobin T.Methylprednisolone (MP) acetate is a commonly used corticosteroid for suppression of inflammation in synovial structures in horses. Its use is often regulated in equine sports by plasma MP concentrations. Objective: To describe variability in MP plasma concentrations after MP acetate injection in different synovial structures and with co-administration with hyaluronic acid (HA). Methods: Field study in actively racing horses in three disciplines (Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarter Horse). Methods: Seventy-six horses (15 Thoroughbreds, 20 Standardbreds and 41 Quarter Horses) were included i...
Ongchai S, Somnoo O, Kongdang P, Peansukmanee S, Tangyuenyong S.We investigated the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) on equine hyaluronan synthase 2 () gene expression and hyaluronan (HA) synthesis in culture models of articular chondrocytes. Equine chondrocytes were treated with TGF-β1 at different concentrations and times in monolayer cultures. In three-dimensional cultures, chondrocyte-seeded gelatin scaffolds were cultured in chondrogenic media containing 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1. The amounts of HA in conditioned media and in scaffolds were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. mRNA expression was analyzed by semi-quantita...
Sladek S, Kearney C, Crean D, Brama PAJ, Tajber L, Fawcett K, Labberte MC, Leggett B, Brayden DJ.Polyelectrolyte nanoparticle constructs (NPs) comprising salmon calcitonin (sCT), chitosan (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) were previously established as having anti-inflammatory potential when injected via the intra-articular (i.a.) route to a mouse model. We attempted to translate the formulation to a large animal model, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated equine model of joint inflammation. The aim was to manufacture under aseptic conditions to produce sterile pyrogen-free NPs, to confirm physicochemical characteristics, and to test toxicity and efficacy in a pilot study. NP dispersions ...
Niemelä TM, Tulamo RM, Aaltonen K, Sankari SM, Hielm-Björkman AK.Inflammatory and degenerative activity inside the joint can be studied in vivo via analysis of synovial fluid (SF) biomarkers, which are molecular markers of inflammatory processes and tissue turnover. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of selected biomarkers in the SF after an intra-articular (IA) high-molecular-weight non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) treatment. Our hypothesis was that prostaglandin E (PGE), substance P, aggrecan chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS846), and carboxypeptide of type II collagen (CPII) concentrations in SF would decrease more in th...
Vendruscolo CDP, Moreira JJ, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Neuenschwander HM, Bonagura G, Agreste FR, Baccarin RYA.The aim of this study was to verify whether transient inflammatory reactions induced by intra-articular medicinal ozone administration affect joint components, by in vivo evaluation of inflammatory (prostaglandin E2, Substance P, Interleukin-6, Interleukine-1, Tumor Necrosis Factor), anti-inflammatory (Interleukin-10) and oxidative (superoxide dismutase activity and oxidative burst) biomarkers and extracellular matrix degradation products (chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid) in synovial fluid. The effects of medicinal ozone were analyzed at two ozone concentrations (groups A and B, 20 an...
Rotter Sopasakis V, Wickelgren R, Sukonina V, Brantsing C, Svala E, Hansson E, Enerbäck S, Lindahl A, Skiöldebrand E.Chondrocytes are responsible for remodeling and maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the cartilage extracellular matrix. Because of the absence of a vascular supply, chondrocytes survive in a relatively hypoxic environment and thus have limited regenerative capacity during conditions of cellular stress associated with inflammation and matrix degradation, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Glucose is essential to sustain chondrocyte metabolism and is a precursor for key matrix components. In this study, we investigated the importance of glucose as a fuel source for matrix repair dur...
Rivas F, Zahid OK, Reesink HL, Peal BT, Nixon AJ, DeAngelis PL, Skardal A, Rahbar E, Hall AR.Hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid, HA) is a ubiquitous molecule that plays critical roles in numerous physiological functions in vivo, including tissue hydration, inflammation, and joint lubrication. Both the abundance and size distribution of HA in biological fluids are recognized as robust indicators of various pathologies and disease progressions. However, such analyses remain challenging because conventional methods are not sufficiently sensitive, have limited dynamic range, and/or are only semi-quantitative. Here we demonstrate label-free detection and molecular weight discrimination of HA w...
Troy JR, Holcombe SJ, Fogle CA, Epstein KL, Woodie JB.To determine the influence of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) membranes applied to intestinal anastomoses or enterotomies on postoperative complications after emergency exploratory celiotomy. Methods: Multicenter retrospective case-controlled series. Methods: Adult horses (59 in the HA-CMC group and 91 controls). Methods: Medical records from 4 referral hospitals were searched for horses ≥1 year of age, treated between 2008 and 2014 with emergency exploratory celiotomy, and surviving at least 24 hours postoperatively. Horses receiving repeat celiotomy during the same hospitalizat...
Wu Y, Stoddart MJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Grad S, Alini M, Ferguson SJ.Articular cartilage plays an essential role in joint lubrication and impact absorption. Through this, the mechanical signals are coupled to the tissue's physiological response. Healthy synovial fluid has been shown to reduce and homogenize the shear stress acting on the cartilage surfaces due to its unique shear-thinning viscosity. As cartilage tissues are sensitive to mechanical changes in articulation, it was hypothesized that replacing the traditional culture medium with a healthy non-Newtonian lubricant could enhance tissue development in a cartilage engineering model, where joint-kinemati...
Vidovic A, Delling U.Coughing and dysphagia have been described following prosthetic laryngoplasty (LP) with or without ventriculectomy/ventriculocordectomy (VE/VCE) for the treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. All previous case descriptions include patients with acute onset of clinical signs after surgery that persisted. The authors observed a late-onset of dysphagia and coughing months to years after LP ± VE/VCE. The condition was always associated with an abnormality of the aryepiglottic fold (AEF). Treatment options for those patients are limited. We suggest augmentation of the AEF as treatment for ...
Kilborne AH, Hussein H, Bertone AL.OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) or HA combined with chondroitin sulfate (CS) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) by use of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro method. SAMPLE Monolayer cultures of synovial cells from 4 adult horses. PROCEDURES Synovial cell cultures were untreated or treated with HA alone or HA-CS-NAG for 24 hours, subsequently unchallenged or challenge-exposed with 2 LPS concentrations (20 and 50 ng/mL) for 2 hours, and retreated with HA or HA-CS-NAG for another 24 hours. Cellular morphology of cultures was evaluated at 0, 24 (before LPS), 26 (after LPS),...
Munsterman AS, Kottwitz JJ, Reid Hanson R.To determine the efficacy of adhesion barriers in horses using quantitative statistical analysis. Methods: Meta-analytical review. Methods: A search using PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar was performed, followed by secondary searches of veterinary trade journals, bibliographies of relevant articles, manufacturer websites, and technical reference guides. Randomized experimental trials in healthy horses were considered that included both a treatment and control group. The endpoint required was euthanasia or laparoscopy to identify adhesion formation. A meta-analysis was performed using a random...
Ememe MU, Abdullahi US, Sackey AK, Ayo JO, Mshelia WP, Edeh RE.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a supplement that contains resveratrol and hyaluronic acid (RH supplement) in aged lame horses. A total of 16 horses of both sexes, aged between 15 and 22 years, weighing between 350-450 kg and showing lameness due to arthritis of the knee, hock, stifle, and fetlock joints and stiffness owing to ageing were used for the study. They comprised eight horses that were administered the RH supplement for three weeks and eight others that served as controls and were given only a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain used as carrier in the supplement. Blood ...
Niemelä TM, Tulamo RM, Hielm-Björkman AK.Intra-articular inflammation resulting in lameness is a common health problem in horses. Exogenous intra-articular hyaluronic acid has been shown to provide an analgesic effect and reduce pain in equine and human osteoarthritis. High molecular weight non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) has gained popularity in the treatment of human arthritic conditions due to its long-acting pain-relieving effects. The aim of this study was to compare the response to treatment of lameness localized in the equine metacarpophalangeal joint injected with non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) an...
Jann HW, Hart JC, Stein LE, Ritchey J, Blaik M, Payton M, Fackelman GE, Rezabek GB, Mann BK.To assess the effects of a crosslinked, modified hyaluronic acid (xCMHA-S) gel on equine tendon healing using an in vivo surgical model. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Adult horses (n = 5). Methods: Full thickness bilateral forelimb window tenectomies were surgically created in both forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons and xCMHA-S gel was implanted intraoperatively into the right forelimb lesion of each horse whereas the left forelimb served as the untreated control. Healing was monitored by serial ultrasound examinations every 14 days over the course of the 84 day st...
Sasao T, Fukuda Y, Yoshida S, Miyabara S, Kasashima Y, Kuwano A, Arai K.In regenerative medicine using transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the importance of regulating the quality of MSCs has been well recognized; however, there is little information concerning the relationship between the population doubling level (PDL) and the stemness of MSCs in equine medicine. In this study, we showed that the amount of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secreted by bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) decreases with increase of PDL. Enzymatic digestion and two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed that a main component of GAG produced by BMSCs was hyaluronan with a small amoun...
Moraes AP, Moreira JJ, Brossi PM, Machado TS, Michelacci YM, Baccarin RY.This study aimed to verify whether transient inflammatory reactions incited by the administration of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) affected joint components through short- and long-term in vivo evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers and extracellular matrix degradation products in synovial fluid. The effects of PRP were analyzed in a short phase protocol (SPP) and in a prolonged phase protocol (PPP), using saline-injected joints as controls. In the SPP, higher white blood cell counts and prostaglandin E2 and total protein concentrations were observed in the synovial fluid of PRP-tr...
Aaltonen K, Niemelä T, Sankari S, Tulamo RM.The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an analytical method to determine the presence of hyaluronic acid derived disaccharides in equine synovial fluid. Results: A high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of hyaluronic acid derived unsaturated disaccharides in equine synovial fluid was developed and validated. The method is based on the measurement of unsaturated disaccharides released by digestion of linear hyaluronic acid molecules. The method showed linearity (r(2) = 0.996) over the full working concentration range 0.89-30 mg/l. Relative standard ...
Listoni AJ, Arruda I, Maia L, Barberini DJ, Martins I, Vasconcellos FC, Landim-Alvarenga FC.Nanotechnology techniques have a prominent role in the current technical and scientific scene. The layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition allows obtaining nanostructures with sophisticated multilayer, using a simple, but versatile technique. This procedure, which is used to coat and functionalize surfaces with nanometer- thick films, has applications in bioengineering, medicine, chemistry, materials and chemical engineering among other areas. Chitosan is a biomaterial, coming from the chitin, a very abundant polymer in nature, which has been recently tested as scaffolds. In this experiment we test th...
Grissom MJ, Temple-Wong MM, Adams MS, Tom M, Schumacher BL, McIlwraith CW, Goodrich LR, Chu CR, Sah RL.Following various types of naturally-occurring traumatic injury to an articular joint, the lubricating ability of synovial fluid is impaired, with a correlated alteration in the concentration and/or structure of lubricant molecules, hyaluronan and proteoglycan-4. However, the effect of arthroscopic cartilage repair surgery on synovial fluid lubricant function and composition is unknown. Objective: Arthroscopic treatment of full-thickness chondral defects in horses with (1) platelet-enriched fibrin or (2) platelet-enriched fibrin+mesenchymal stem cells leads to equine synovial fluid with impair...
Braga PC, Dal Sasso M, Lattuada N, Greco V, Sibilia V, Zucca E, Stucchi L, Ferro E, Ferrucci F.Activated neutrophils (PMNs), the ROS/RNS released by PMNs and the derived inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human inflammatory airway diseases. Similar diseases are also present in horses which suffer from recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) and inflammatory airway diseases (IAD). Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays numerous roles in modulating inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to examine whether a preparation of HA (MW 900 000 Da) interferes with ROS/RNS during the course of equine PMN respiratory b...
Brown MP, Trumble TN, Plaas AH, Sandy JD, Romano M, Hernandez J, Merritt KA.(1) To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral (OC) injury on synovial fluid (SF) chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) concentration and chain length, (2) to compare SF and cartilage CS data from joints with OC fragmentation, and (3) to compare SF CS and HA profiles with those seen in serum from the same horses. Methods: Serum and SF were obtained from (1) normal horses after 8 weeks rest, (2) the same horses after 9 months treadmill training, and (3) horses with OC injury from racing. Articular cartilage was also collected from group 3 horses. Concentrations and chain le...
White KK, Hodgson DR, Hancock D, Parry BW, Cordell C.The effects of repeated arthrocentesis and injection of local anesthetic agents, lidocaine HCl or mepivacaine HCl on the equine middle carpal joint were investigated. Synovial fluid samples were evaluated before, and 12, 24 and 48 hours following, treatment. The greatest changes from pretreatment values occurred in synovial fluid cellularity. Repeated arthrocentesis caused a moderate increase in cell counts, while injection of local anesthetics caused a greater increase. Alterations in mucin clot quality, hyaluronic acid content, fluid viscosity, total protein and immunoglobulin G were general...
Wong BL, Kim SH, Antonacci JM, McIlwraith CW, Sah RL.To determine the effects of acute injury and tribosupplementation by hyaluronan (HA) on synovial fluid (SF) modulation of cartilage shear during tibio-femoral articulation. Methods: Human osteochondral blocks from the lateral femoral condyle (LFC) and tibial plateau (LTP) were apposed, compressed 13%, and subjected to sliding under video microscopy. Tests were conducted with equine SF from normal joints (NL-SF), SF from acutely injured joints (AI-SF), and AI-SF to which HA was added (AI-SF+HA). Local and overall shear strain (E(xz)) and the lateral displacement (Deltax) at which E(xz) reached ...
Grissom MJ, Temple-Wong MM, Adams MS, Tom M, Schumacher BL, McIlwraith CW, Goodrich LR, Chu CR, Sah RL.Following various types of naturally-occurring traumatic injury to an articular joint, the lubricating ability of synovial fluid is impaired, with a correlated alteration in the concentration and/or structure of lubricant molecules, hyaluronan and proteoglycan-4. However, the effect of arthroscopic cartilage repair surgery on synovial fluid lubricant function and composition is unknown. Objective: Arthroscopic treatment of full-thickness chondral defects in horses with (1) platelet-enriched fibrin or (2) platelet-enriched fibrin+mesenchymal stem cells leads to equine synovial fluid with impair...
Bohannon LK, Owens SD, Walker NJ, Carrade DD, Galuppo LD, Borjesson DL.Joint inflammation and septic arthritis are both potential complications of intra-articular injections of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Clinicians may prophylactically co-inject BM-MSCs admixed with either antimicrobials or hyaluronic acid; however, the effect of these agents on cultured BM-MSCs is unknown. Objective: To determine the effects of therapeutic levels of gentamicin, amikacin and hyaluronic acid on cultured equine BM-MSCs in vitro. Methods: In vitro experimental study. Methods: Equine BM-MSCs from 4 healthy mature horses were isolated. Cultured BM-MSCs from ...
Ongchai S, Somnoo O, Kongdang P, Peansukmanee S, Tangyuenyong S.We investigated the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) on equine hyaluronan synthase 2 () gene expression and hyaluronan (HA) synthesis in culture models of articular chondrocytes. Equine chondrocytes were treated with TGF-β1 at different concentrations and times in monolayer cultures. In three-dimensional cultures, chondrocyte-seeded gelatin scaffolds were cultured in chondrogenic media containing 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1. The amounts of HA in conditioned media and in scaffolds were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. mRNA expression was analyzed by semi-quantita...
Lapointe JM, Laverty S, Lavoie JP.Case histories, results of synovial fluid analyses, treatment regimens and outcome are described for 15 adult Standardbred horses with confirmed post-injection septic arthritis. Joint sepsis followed injection of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycan, or local anaesthetic. The median interval from injection to appearance of clinical signs was 2.5 days, and median interval from injection to referral was 9 days. The median initial synovial leucocyte count on admission was 57 x 10(9)/litre, but there was a wide range of values (18-258 x 10(9)/litre). The median synovia...
Blikslager AT.Ischemic injury is one of the most important causes of mortality in equine veterinary medicine. Although treatment of reperfusion injury has been attempted in a number of experimental trials to reduce the level of injury subsequent to an ischemic episode, this research has not resulted in the development of useful clinical treatments. Nevertheless, recent studies assessing intraluminal application of solutions containing antioxidants, nutrients, and vasodilators are promising. Furthermore, focusing on improving mucosal recovery after an ischemic event may provide an alternative method of reduc...
Palmer JL, Bertone AL, Malemud CJ, Carter BG, Papay RS, Mansour J.The relevance of site and the influence of exercise on third carpal articular cartilage proteoglycan (PG) were assessed in 16 horses. Six horses were exercised (exercised group) for 30 minutes, 3 times/wk, for 6 weeks. The other 10 horses (nonexercised group) were housed in box stalls for the same 6-week period. At week 6, articular cartilage from the proximal surface of the right third carpal bone was harvested and cultured with radioactive sulfate to label newly synthesized PG. Endogenous PG was measured by use of a uronic acid assay. Newly synthesized and endogenous PG were characterized by...
Nürnberger S, Meyer C, Ponomarev I, Barnewitz D, Resinger C, Klepal W, Albrecht C, Marlovits S.Treatment of cartilage defects poses challenging problems in human and veterinary medicine, especially in horses. This study examines the suitability of applying scaffold materials similar to those used for human cartilage regeneration on equine chondrocytes. Chondrocytes gained from biopsies of the talocrural joint of three horses were propagated in 2D culture and grown on two different scaffold materials, hyaluronan (HYAFF®) and collagen (BioGide®), and evaluated by light and electron microscopy. The equine chondrocytes developed well in both types of materials. They were vital and physiol...
Wu Y, Stoddart MJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Grad S, Alini M, Ferguson SJ.Articular cartilage plays an essential role in joint lubrication and impact absorption. Through this, the mechanical signals are coupled to the tissue's physiological response. Healthy synovial fluid has been shown to reduce and homogenize the shear stress acting on the cartilage surfaces due to its unique shear-thinning viscosity. As cartilage tissues are sensitive to mechanical changes in articulation, it was hypothesized that replacing the traditional culture medium with a healthy non-Newtonian lubricant could enhance tissue development in a cartilage engineering model, where joint-kinemati...
da Silva Xavier AA, da Rosa PP, de Brum Mackmill L, Roll VFB.For several years, hyaluronic acid (HyA) and, more recently, polyacrylamide hydrogel (PHyd) have been used to reduce lameness and pain caused by osteoarthritis. However, there is still a lack of scientific evidence of the efficacy of these substances to allow veterinary experts to make decisions about their use in horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate, through a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), the efficacy of HyA, associated or not with other drugs, and PHyd in relieving lameness in horses with osteoarthritis. The searches for primary studies were conducted on ...
Saari H, Konttinen YT, Tulamo RM, Antti-Poika I, Honkanen V.In addition to its well-known physicochemical properties, hyaluronate (HA) has recently been shown to have important biological and pathophysiologic regulatory effects on granulocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, as well as on the healing of wounds and various joint disorders. Many of these effects depend on or are reflected in the concentration and degree of polymerization of HA. Therefore, high-performance liquid chromatography with size-exclusion column was used to characterize the concentration and degree of polymerization of HA in equine synovial fluid (SF). The mean (+...
Gingerich DA, Auer JA, Fackelman GE.A single intra-articular injection of 20 or 40 mg of purified hyaluronic acid of rooster comb origin resulted in restoration of normal joint function in horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. The functional improvement, measured by pressure sensitive force plate techniques, was detectable within one week after treatment and persisted throughout a four week experimental period despite continued use of the joints. The response was dose dependent in that injection of 0 (saline), 5 or 10 mg hyaluronic acid per joint space resulted in no significant change in joint function while dosage...
Porcello A, Gonzalez-Fernandez P, Jordan O, Allémann E.Hyaluronic acid (HA) constitutes a versatile chemical framework for the development of osteoarthritis pain treatment by means of injection in the joints, so-called viscosupplementation. Without appropriate physico-chemical tuning, such preparations are inherently hindered by prompt in vivo degradation, mediated by hyaluronidases and oxidative stress. To prolong hydrogel residence time and confer optimized product functionality, novel thermoresponsive nanoforming HA derivatives were proposed and characterized. Combined use of sulfo-dibenzocyclooctyne-PEG4-amine linkers and poly(N-isopropylacryl...
Johnston GCA, Wood KA, Jackson KV, Perkins NR, Zedler ST.Intra-articular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) is commonly used to treat equine arthritis. Inflammatory response or "joint flare" is a recognized potential side effect. However, the incidence and severity of inflammation following IA HA injection in horses is not well documented. This study compared the effects of two IA HA formulations of different molecular weight (MW) and a saline control on clinical signs and synovial fluid markers of inflammation in normal equine joints. Eight adult horses each had three healthy fetlock joints randomly assigned to treatment with either 1.4 mega Dalton HA, 0.8 ...
Rowley G, Antonas KN, Hilbert BJ.An assay for the determination of hyaluronic acid concentration in equine synovia (synovial fluid) was investigated. The method involved the degradation of hyaluronic acid, using a highly specific microbial enzyme. The unsaturated tetra- and hexasaccharide products were oxidized with periodate and caused to react with thiobarbituric acid for form a chromophore which absorbed in the visible range of the spectrum. The method was precise within acceptable limits for synovia and compared favorably with the widely used carbazole method of Bitter and Muir (Anal Biochem 4:330-334, 1962). The between-...
Timoney JF, Mukhtar MM.The group C streptococci are the most commonly isolated bacteria from disease states in the horse. Important virulence factors of S. equi and S. zooepidemicus are the hyaluronic acid capsule and the antiphagocytic fibrillar M protein located on the surface of the cell wall and extending into and through the capsule. The hyaluronic acid capsule is non-antigenic and so is not involved in protective immunity. The M protein, a superantigen, elicits very strong B and T cell responses that may result in protective immunity mediated by opsonic antibodies in plasma and by locally synthesized IgG and I...
Schumacher HR.The normal synovial membrane as seen by electron microscopy is bordered by one to three layers of lining cells that include some with phagocytic function, others rich in endoplasmic reticulum for protein synthesis and additional cells with mixed properties. Lining cells with prominent Golgi apparatus probably produce the synovial hyaluronic acid. The synovial matrix contains collagen and mucopolysaccharide. It offers little barrier to diffusion of most materials. Superficial capillaries and venules are fenestrated and presumably allow rapid exchange of fluid and electrolytes. Deeper venules ha...
Nizolek DJ, White KK.Degenerative arthrosis is perhaps the most common debilitating disease of performance horses. Treatment should be based upon a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of normal joints and upon an understanding of the processes of degeneration and repair. These topics are briefly reviewed. Although rest is probably, the most beneficial therapy, physical and pharmaceutical treatments are often employed in an effort to speed recovery. The effects and relative benefits of intrasynovial injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronica cid, and Arteparon are considered in detail. Although local corticoste...
Van Pelt RW.Physical, biochemical, and cytologic properties of synovial fluid from normal equine tarsal joints were investigated. Tarsal synovial fluid was pale yellow, clear, free of flocculent material, and did not clot. Volume varied in direct proportion to individual tarsal joint size. Relative viscosity was related to volume, polymerization and quantity of hyaluronic acid, and protein concentration. Mucinous precipitate quality (hyaluronic acid polymerization) was uniformly high. Results of certain analyses of serum were compared with those of tarsal synovial fluid. Tarsal synovial fluid protein conc...
Niemelä TM, Tulamo RM, Hielm-Björkman AK.Intra-articular inflammation resulting in lameness is a common health problem in horses. Exogenous intra-articular hyaluronic acid has been shown to provide an analgesic effect and reduce pain in equine and human osteoarthritis. High molecular weight non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) has gained popularity in the treatment of human arthritic conditions due to its long-acting pain-relieving effects. The aim of this study was to compare the response to treatment of lameness localized in the equine metacarpophalangeal joint injected with non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) an...
Lin YL, Brama PA, Kiers GH, DeGroot J, van Weeren PR.To quantify and compare biochemical characteristics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of specimens harvested from tensional and compressive regions of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of horses in age classes that include neonates to mature horses. Methods: Tendon specimens were collected on postmortem examination from 40 juvenile horses (0, 5, 12, and 36 months old) without macroscopically visible signs of tendonitis. Methods: Central core specimens of the SDFT were obtained with a 4-mm-diameter biopsy punch from 2 loaded sites, the central part of the mid-metacarpal region and th...
Vendruscolo CDP, Moreira JJ, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Neuenschwander HM, Bonagura G, Agreste FR, Baccarin RYA.The aim of this study was to verify whether transient inflammatory reactions induced by intra-articular medicinal ozone administration affect joint components, by in vivo evaluation of inflammatory (prostaglandin E2, Substance P, Interleukin-6, Interleukine-1, Tumor Necrosis Factor), anti-inflammatory (Interleukin-10) and oxidative (superoxide dismutase activity and oxidative burst) biomarkers and extracellular matrix degradation products (chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid) in synovial fluid. The effects of medicinal ozone were analyzed at two ozone concentrations (groups A and B, 20 an...
Frean SP, Lees P.To investigate effects of the anti-arthritic agents hyaluronan and polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) on inflammatory metabolism in cultured equine synoviocytes. Methods: Synoviocytes cultured from samples obtained from the metacarpophalangeal joints of 4 horses. Methods: Equine synoviocytes were grown in monolayer culture. Synoviocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and simultaneously treated with various concentrations of hyaluronan or PSGAG for 48 hours. Three hyaluronan preparations were compared. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations in culture medium were measured, us...
Rodriguez Hurtado I, Stewart AJ, Wolfe DF, Caldwell FJ, Harrie M, Whitley EM.Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan, is a major component of the pericellular matrix which envelopes mammalian cells. Binding of hyaluronan to one of its specific receptors, CD44, modulates transduction of intracellular signals which direct a variety of processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation, and neoplasia. Since regulation of these processes is critical to equine reproductive success, localization of constitutive CD44 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in ovarian, oviductal, and uterine tissues from healthy mares. Ovarian stroma contained thecal ...
Smith LCR, Wylie CE, Palmer L, Ramzan PHL.There are few observational studies regarding the potentially serious complication of synovial sepsis following intrasynovial medication in general equine practice. Quantification of risk is fundamental to fully inform decision-making and owner consent prior to undertaking procedures. Objective: To describe the occurrence of synovial sepsis following intrasynovial injections in a large ambulatory equine practice between 2006-2011. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medication records were cross-referenced against synovial cytology submissions and hospital admissions for synovial sep...
Sasao T, Fukuda Y, Yoshida S, Miyabara S, Kasashima Y, Kuwano A, Arai K.In regenerative medicine using transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the importance of regulating the quality of MSCs has been well recognized; however, there is little information concerning the relationship between the population doubling level (PDL) and the stemness of MSCs in equine medicine. In this study, we showed that the amount of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secreted by bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) decreases with increase of PDL. Enzymatic digestion and two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed that a main component of GAG produced by BMSCs was hyaluronan with a small amoun...
Di Francesco P, Cajon P, Desterke C, Perron Lepage MF, Lataillade JJ, Kadri T, Lepage OM.To assess the clinical value and safety of the application of allogeneic equine oral mucosa mesenchymal stromal cells (OM-MSCs) to wounds. Animals. 8 healthy adult horses without front limb skin lesions or musculoskeletal disease. Procedures. Stem cells were isolated from the oral mucosa of a donor horse. Horses were subjected to the creation of eight full-thickness cutaneous wounds, two on each distal forelimb (FL) and two on both sides of the thorax (TH). Each wound was subjected to one out of four treatments: no medication (T1), hyaluronic acid- (HA-) gel containing OM-MSC (T2), HA-gel cont...
Matheson A, Regmi SC, Martin-Alarcon L, Jay GD, Scott WM, Schmidt TA.: In experimental models of equine joint-injury and osteoarthritis synovial fluid (SF) composition (proteoglycan-4, hyaluronan) can vary, along with changes to SF mechanical function (lubrication, viscosity). The study hypotheses were a) clinical equine joint-injury and disease results in altered SF composition and diminished mechanical function, and b) serum composition (proteoglycan-4 or hyaluronan) changes concurrently. The objectives were to characterize composition (proteoglycan-4, hyaluronan), and function of SF and serum from normal horses compared to clinical groups: osteoarthritis, ac...
