In vivo studies involving horses refer to research conducted within living organisms to understand various biological processes, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions in equine species. These studies provide insights into the physiological and pathological responses of horses under natural conditions. In vivo research encompasses a range of investigations, including pharmacokinetics, disease modeling, and the evaluation of treatment efficacy. It often involves the use of controlled environments to simulate real-life scenarios while observing the effects of specific variables on equine health. This page gathers peer-reviewed research articles and scholarly studies that explore the methodologies, findings, and implications of in vivo research in horses, contributing to the advancement of equine science and veterinary medicine.
Burbidge HM, Kannegieter N, Dickson LR, Goulden BE, Badcoe L.Iohexol, a water soluble non-ionic contrast agent, was evaluated for myelography in the horse. Both 300 and 350 mg iodine/ml iohexol gave diagnostic cervical myelograms. Pathological changes were limited to extradural oedema and an increase in the number of white blood cells and specific gravity in the cerebrospinal fluid two days after myelography. This increase in white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid was, however, much less than that recorded by other authors using metrizamide and iopamidol contrast media. These findings indicate that iohexol is a less irritant myelographic contrast ...
Brusie RW, Sullins KE, Silverman DG, Rosenberger JL.Arteriovenous (ischaemic strangulating obstruction, ISO) and venous obstructions (haemorrhagic strangulating obstruction, HSO) were created for 70 min in the small intestine of eight anaesthetised horses, and ISO was created in four horses for 2 h and four horses for 3 h at the sternal and diaphragmatic flexures of the large colon. Five minutes following release of the occlusions, sodium fluorescein 20 per cent (0.5 mg/kg bodyweight intravenously) was administered. Serial quantitative measurements of serosal surface fluorescence of the injured segments and a control segment were made at 2, 10,...
Lavoie JP, Spensley MS, Smith BP, Mihalyi J.The uptake of colostral IgG and IgM, their serum half-lives, and the rates of endogenous synthesis of IgG and IgM were evaluated in 6 newborn foals fed bovine colostrum (principals) and 6 foals allowed to suckle their dams (controls). The principal foals were fed 400 ml of bovine colostrum (IgG, 10,000 mg/dl and IgM, 200 mg/dl) at 2-hour intervals, from 2 to 20 hours after foaling (total dose, 4 L). Serum IgG and IgM concentrations were determined by single radial immunodiffusion from birth to 98 days of age. At foaling, principal foals had no detectable serum equine IgG, but 1 control foal ha...
Lavoie JP, Spensley MS, Smith BP, Bowling AT, Morse S.Serum complement activity and selected hematologic variables were evaluated in 5 newborn foals fed bovine colostrum (principal group) and 6 foals allowed to nurse their dam (control group). Also, bovine colostrum was evaluated for anti-equine antibodies. Precolostral serum hemolytic and conglutinating complement activities were low and increased similarly in foals of both groups to reach adult values between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. Bovine colostrum strongly agglutinated, but did not hemolyse principal foals' RBC and blood containing all known equine blood group alloantigens. Hemolysis was n...
Kobluk CN, Ducharme NG, Lumsden JH, Pascoe PJ, Livesey MA, Hurtig M, Horney FD, Arighi M.From May 1, 1983 to April 1, 1985, 142 operations were performed on horses with signs of acute abdominal pain (colic), using a ventral midline incision. Seventy-eight horses lived for at least 15 days after surgery or had acute dehiscence and were included in the study. Seventy horses had surgery once, and 8 horses had surgery 2 or more times. Six-month follow-up evaluation was obtained for 66 horses that had 1 surgery and for 6 horses that had multiple surgeries. Incisional complications included drainage (including infection), acute dehiscence, hernia, and suture sinus formation. The effects...
Dunlop CI, Hodgson DS, Watson JW, Gillespie JR, Steffey EP, Jackson AC.High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is a recently developed mode of ventilation that delivers small tidal volumes at frequencies greater than 60 cycles per min via an injection catheter to the animal's airway. The construction of a high frequency jet ventilator suitable for use in adult horses is described. The effectiveness of this ventilator in maintaining normal arterial blood-gas tension was evaluated in five healthy adult horses. The horses were anaesthetised with intravenous acetylpromazine, guaifenesin, and thiamylal, positioned in lateral recumbency and baseline measurements were mad...
Tulamo RM, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA.Infectious arthritis was induced experimentally in one tarsocrural joint of six horses by intra-articular injection of 1 ml Staphylococcus-saline suspension containing 9 x 10(4) to 3 x 10(6) organisms. The corresponding contralateral joint was injected with 1 ml of saline and served as a control. The progression of the induced infectious arthritis was assessed over a nine-day period by clinical examination and sequential synovial fluid analysis with pH and lactate measurements. Changes in synovial fluid were present before clinical signs of infectious arthritis were manifested. The diagnostic ...
Vanhaesebroeck B, Grooten J, Fiers W.Using a model of local lymph node (LN) immunization, we investigated the effect of in vivo Ir on the generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells or their precursors. Ag used for immunization were SRBC, horse RBC, OVA, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, or CFA. Ag-draining LN, in the acute phase of the Ir, did not contain detectable LAK effector activity, nor an enhanced NK activity. After culture for 3 to 5 days in the absence of exogenously added IL-2, immunized LN cells developed a spontaneous LAK-like cytotoxicity. This activity represented a substantial fraction of the IL-2-generated LAK...
Rick MC.Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the various grades of rectal tears is discussed. Surgical techniques, which include direct closure, diverting colostomies, and placement of temporary rectal liners, are detailed. Also, rectal prolapses and various methods of repair are outlined.
Art T, Lekeux P, Gustin P, Desmecht D, Amory H, Paiva M.The purpose of the present work was to measure the pulmonary inertance (IL) in ponies and to analyze its potential influence on the mechanics of breathing and on their aptitude to increase ventilation during exercise. Five healthy ponies 2.4-4 yr old [mean wt 255 +/- 15 (SE) kg] were used. On the one hand, inertance of the respiratory system (Irs) was computed from the value of the resonant frequency (fr) measured by the forced oscillation technique. On the other hand, respiratory airflow, tidal volume (VT), and transpulmonary pressure (PL) changes were recorded while the ponies were performin...
Dodman NH, Lehr JL, Spaulding GL, Gavriely N.Three sheep, a foal, a pony, and a calf were anesthetized and ventilated for short periods, using a high-frequency oscillatory ventilator. The efficiency of CO2 elimination was characterized at various oscillatory frequencies (50 to 30 Hz) and various tidal volumes, although the tidal volume used was always less than the measured dead space of the animal. In general, increasing either the oscillatory frequency or tidal volume increased CO2 elimination, but increasing the tidal volume had more effect. The relationship between these 3 variables was best described by a power law equation. Ventila...
McManus DP, Rishi AK.A segment of the ribosomal RNA gene of Schistosoma mansoni and a DNA fragment specific to Echinococcus granulosus, cloned in plasmids, have been used as DNA probes to assess the extent of genetic variability within E. granulosus and some distinct strains have been identified. The DNA analysis, involving restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot hybridization with the probes, did not demonstrate any significant genetic variation within the U.K. horse/dog or sheep/dog strains but confirmed the distinctiveness of the two strains shown in previous studies. The sheep/dog strain was shown...
Markel MD.Results of these studies have demonstrated that colopexy of the left large colon to the abdominal wall is a relatively simple and quick procedure that is permanent 1 year after surgery. The technique does not appear to be associated with long-term weight loss or abdominal pain after surgery. It has been used in pregnant mares, both experimentally and clinically, without apparent complications. In addition, horses used for pleasure-riding and show hunting have returned to performance and have not had complications. Large colon resection is a useful technique, especially for animals with strangu...
Pascoe JR, Peterson PR.Optimal intestinal healing occurs when like layers of the intestinal wall are aligned. Hand-sewn, double-layer, end-to-end anastomosis that apposes the mucosa and produces slight inversion of the seromuscular layer is recommended to minimize adhesion formation and provide reasonable alignment of the intestinal layers. Stapled, everted, triangulated, end-to-end anastomosis is not recommended because of extensive adhesion formation and poor healing of the intestinal layers. The preferred stapled techniques create an inverting, side-to-side stoma between the bowel segments.
Bailey M, Martin SC, Lloyd S.Immunologic and hematologic responses were examined in 4 ponies with experimentally induced Strongylus vulgaris infection and in 5 helminth-free ponies. Two ponies were inoculated with 200 larvae and 2 were inoculated with 700 larvae of S vulgaris and then were reinoculated with the same numbers of larvae 34 weeks later. Initial response of the ponies inoculated with S vulgaris was S vulgaris antigen-induced lymphocyte response that developed 1.5 to 3 weeks after inoculation and did not persist. Development of antigen-reactive lymphocytes was followed sequentially by a biphasic complement-fixi...
Huntington PJ, Jeffcott LB, Friend SC, Luff AR, Finkelstein DI, Flynn RJ.An investigation of 78 cases of typical Australian Stringhalt from 52 properties in Victoria was carried out from 1985 to 1987. Horses were either examined in the field (n = 52), referred to the Veterinary Clinical Centre (n = 13) or clinical details were obtained verbally (n = 13). In addition 10 cases of false or atypical stringhalt were examined. Detailed soil and pasture analysis was carried out on 14 properties where Australian Stringhalt had occurred. Information was also obtained on epidemiology of the condition from a survey of practitioners. Fifty of the 52 cases examined in the field...
Armstrong RA, Lawrence RA, Jones RL, Wilson NH, Collier A.1. This study describes attempts to compare prostacyclin (IP-) receptors in human, pig, horse, rabbit and rat platelets and in circular muscle of human, rabbit and dog mesenteric and pig gastroepiploic arteries. Three stable prostacyclin analogues, iloprost, cicaprost and 6a-carba-prostacyclin (6a-carba-PGI2) and a prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue EP 157 (previously shown to mimic prostacyclin on human platelets) were used. 2. Our main conclusion is that prostacyclin receptors on human, pig and horse platelets are similar in nature, but distinct from those on rabbit and rat platelets. Funct...
French DA, Barber SM, Leach DH, Doige CE.Arthroscopic surgery was performed on 12 horses (2-4 years of age) to create a 7 x 14 mm full-thickness cartilage defect in one radial carpal bone and in the contralateral third carpal bone. Six horses remained confined to a small paddock and six horses underwent a program of increasing exercise consisting of walking, trotting, and cantering for 13 weeks. All lesions showed evidence of healing at week 6 that progressed to more complete healing at week 13. There was no difference in the amount of repair tissue covering the defect. Histologically, the lesions healed with a combination of fibrous...
Bristol DG, Cullen J.An inverting, triangulated, stapled, end-to-end anastomosis technique was evaluated in the jejunum of four horses. None of the horses showed evidence of gastrointestinal disturbance after surgery; however, stricture and adhesion formation were pronounced in three animals examined 10 days, one month, and two months after surgery. The animal examined four months after surgery had no adhesions present at the anastomosis, and only mild narrowing of the intestinal lumen. Histologic examination of the anastomoses showed lack of a normal mucosal lining in some examined sections up to two months posts...
French DD, Klei TR, Taylor HW, Chapman MR.Twenty-one mixed-breed pony foals, reared and maintained under parasite-free conditions, were used to test the efficacy of ivermectin in oral drench and paste formulations (200 micrograms/kg) against 11-day-old migrating larvae of Parascaris equorum. Three replicates of 4 foals and 3 replicates of 3 foals were formed on the basis of age. Foals in replicates of 4 were randomly allocated to be indicators, or to receive vehicle (control) or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. Foals in replicates of 3 were randomly allocated to receive vehicle or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. The recov...
Budras KD, Hullinger RL, Sack WO.The laminar epidermis (epidermis parietis) of hooves from 14 clinically normal horses, 6 months to 15 years old, was examined by light and electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to measure the contributions of this region to the formation of the hoof wall. By their progressive keratinization to form primary epidermal laminae, the secondary epidermal laminae ultimately contributed about 20% of the thickness of the hoof wall (as revealed in the white line [zona alba]). The keratinized, primary epidermal laminae were developed to a height of 4 mm during their proximodistal-course, much of thi...
Kano I, Nagai F, Satoh K, Ushiyama K, Nakao T, Kano K.Genomic DNA for Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit was obtained from libraries of horse kidney genomic DNA in Charon 4A and in EMBL3 bacteriophages by screening with the full sized cDNA probe of the alpha 1 subunit of rat Na,K-ATPase as probe. The gene spans 30 kb and consists of 23 exons and 22 intervening sequences. Intron-exon boundaries were analyzed. The protein-coding nucleotide sequence encodes 1016 amino acids with an Mr of 112,264. The putative amino acid sequence of horse alpha 1 is 96-97% homologous to those of other mammalian species.
Clabough DL, Conboy HS, Roberts MC.Using radial immunodiffusion as a standard, 4 screening techniques for detection of failure of passive transfer in equine neonates were compared for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, efficiency, and cost. The techniques compared were latex agglutination test, membrane filter ELISA, dipstick ELISA, and glutaraldehyde coagulation (GC) test. Test results of 50 serum samples from foals 24 to 60 hours old revealed consistently highest accuracy in the GC test at IgG concentrations of 400 and 800 mg/dl, and lowest cost per test, using the GC test. Two hundred fifty-th...
Li JK, Moloney BK, Shupe JL, Gardner EJ, Leone NC, Elsner Y.Genomic DNA polymorphisms obtained by restriction fragment-length polymorphism from healthy horses and horses with hereditary multiple exostoses were analyzed. These DNA were digested by 12 restriction enzymes and were hybridized against 6 isotopically labeled oncogene probes. Hybridization was not detected with the viral oncogene, v-ras, which indicated this oncogene was absent in the equine genome. Oncogenes (c-raf-1, c-fes, c-myb, c-myc, and c-sis) were present and had similar hybridization patterns and signal intensities in DNA from healthy horses and horses with hereditary multiple exosto...
Althouse GC, Seager SW, Varner DD, Webb GW.An experiment was conducted to evaluate three commercially available test kits, the Azostix, Multistix and Uric-acid test, for the detection of urine in the equine ejaculate. Azostix, which tests for urea nitrogen, consistently detected urine in the equine ejaculate. Urine contamination was evident when a color change occurred in the reagent pad, going from yellow to green after 10 sec of exposure. The sensitivity of Azostix to urea nitrogen in contaminated samples was 39 mg/dl. The Multistix test kit also successfully detected urine in semen. In the Multistix nitrite pad the color changed fro...
Wilson DA, Badertscher RR, Boero MJ, Baker GJ, Foreman JH.Ultrasonography was used to evaluate the ventral midline incisions of 21 ponies following exploratory laparotomy. The incisions were evaluated before surgery and at weekly intervals from one to seven weeks after surgery. Both 5.0 and 7.5 MHz linear array and 7.5 MHz sector transducers were used for the evaluations. The incisional complications observed were drainage, oedema, suture sinus formation, suture abscess, superficial dehiscence and incisional hernia. Ultrasonographic imaging of the ventral midline incision was an easy, reliable and objective method for detecting and monitoring the pro...
Lester GD, Bolton JR, Cambridge H, Thurgate S.The myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum and large colon was monitored from Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes in four conscious 'parasite-naive' weanling foals. All foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae and alterations to the myoelectrical activity observed. The frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly in all post infection periods coinciding with assumed larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature. Peaks in caecal and colonic activity occurred at Days 1 to 5 post infection....
Tillman LG, Moore JN.The activity of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) for healthy horses was 64 +/- 13 mUnits/ml. In vitro, equine serum ACE was sensitive to the following inhibitors (IC50): enalapril (570 nM or 215 ng/ml), captopril (190 nM or 41.3 ng/ml), and enalaprilat (6 nM or 2.1 ng/ml). The intravenous (i.v.) administration of angiotensin I to six healthy horses produced a dose proportional pressor response. The maximal increase in mean arterial pressure over baseline values was 65.6 mmHg at angiotensin I doses of 500 ng/kg bodyweight (bwt). The attenuation of this response to angiotensin I was fur...
King JN, Gerring EL.Characteristic motility patterns were seen throughout the gastrointestinal tract in a pony prepared chronically with electromechanical recording devices after developing a simple obstruction of the small intestine. Gross distension of the stomach with fluid produced loss of gastric contractile activity and a chaotic electrogram. These changes were reversed instantaneously when the stomach was decompressed. In the jejunum, proximal to the obstruction, the unique 'colic motor complex' was observed with contractions of longer duration arranged in characteristic pulses of activity. The left dorsal...
LeBlanc MM, Asbury AC, Lyle SK.Uterine response to inoculation with Streptococcus zooepidemicus organisms, 51Cr-labeled 15-microns microspheres, and charcoal was evaluated in 9 mares (4 resistant and 5 susceptible to endometritis) to determine mechanical and cellular clearance rates during the early postovulatory period. Mares were inoculated at estrus prior to ovulation during estrous cycles 1, 3, and 5. Uterine swab specimens for aerobic and anaerobic bacteriologic culture and serum for progesterone determination were obtained on postovulation day 3 during estrous cycle 1, on the day of ovulation during estrous cycle 3, a...
Watson ED, Stokes CR, Bourne FJ.Acute endometritis was induced in ovariectomized pony mares by infusion of a 1% solution of oyster glycogen. Maximum concentrations of immunoreactive leukotriene B4 in uterine washings coincided with the greatest rate of infiltration of neutrophils into the uterine lumen. Concentrations of immunoreactive leukotriene B4 decreased to basal levels 6 h after infusion and were unaffected by administration of ovarian steroids to ovariectomized mares. Uterine washings from mares with persistent endometritis did not contain significantly different concentrations of leukotriene B4 from genitally normal...
Clark ES, Becht JL.This article discusses the various drugs that affect the equine gastrointestinal tract. Drugs that alter intestinal motility, that protect the gastrointestinal tract, and that alter secretions, as well as analgesics, appetite stimulants, and orally administered antimicrobial agents are reviewed.
Gottschalk RD, Reyers F, van den Berg SS.The effects of a commercially available equine hyperimmune anti-endotoxin serum on synovial fluid parameters were evaluated in an induced synovitis model in normal horses. Four groups of 3 horses each received lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus hyperimmune antiendotoxin (anti-LPS), LPS, anti-LPS, and Ringers lactate (control) respectively injected into the left intercarpal joint. Synovial fluid parameters were measured at 4, 8, 24 and 72 h. It was found that anti-LPS had no attenuating effect on the LPS and that it induced a synovitis almost equivalent to that induced by LPS alone. The introduction...
Lumsden JH, Jacobs RM, Physick-Sheard P.A study was conducted to examine the relationship of delta bilirubin to traditional bilirubin fractions to determine if delta bilirubin might assist in differentiating causes of hyperbilirubinemia in the horse. A recently introduced thin-film method was used for delta bilirubin determination. Thin-film and the traditional diazo methods were used for determining total, unconjugated, and conjugated bilirubin fractions. Sera from 38 healthy and 85 sick horses were examined.Thin-film serum delta bilirubin determination does not appear to assist in differentiating causes of unconjugated hyperbiliru...
Ayliffe TR, Allen WE.PREVIOUS studies have shown that instillation of sodium benzylpenicillin into the uterine lumen of ponies in small volumes is followed by peak plasma concentrations of the antibiotic in 10to 15 mins (Allen 1978; Allen and Clarke 1978). However, the assumption that the circulating penicillin is absorbed only through the endometrium is questionable because Allen, Kessy and Noakes (1979) concluded that the intrauterine instillation of phenolsulphonphthalein was followed by absorption of the dye from the peritoneal cavity, after passage along the uterine tubes.
The present investigation was carri...
Mason C, Greig M.Lower back pain is prevalent in horse riders as a result of the absorption of repetitive and multiplanar propulsive forces from the horse. Global positioning system technology provides potential for in vivo measurement of planar loading during riding. Objective: To quantify the uniaxial loading at the lumbar and cervicothoracic spine during dressage elements. Methods: Repeated measures, randomized order. Methods: Equestrian arena. Patients (or Other Participants): Twenty-one female dressage riders. Methods: Each rider completed walk, rising trot, sitting trot, and canter trials in a randomized...
Costa HM, Silva AV, Guimarães MP.This paper describes some morphological aspects of Cylicocyclus brevicapsulatus (Ihle, 1920) (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) from Equus caballus in Brazil. The worms were studied using an optical microscope (measurements and illustrations) and a scanning electron microscope for a more detailed examination of the external morphology. The buccal capsule is very short, with a very thin wall, and the dorsal gutter is absent. Other morphological aspects are described including measurement of the spicules and gubernaculum.
Vandenbossche GM, Bouckaert S, De Muynck C, Mommens G, Van Zeveren A, Remon JP.The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was studied in healthy Shetland ponies. Ibuprofen was administered IV, as a suspension, and as a solid solution oral paste to ponies from which food was withheld. The suspension paste was also administered to ponies that received hay and water ad libitum. Both formulations had an absolute bioavailability of about 80%. Bioavailability was not influenced by feeding.
Bell BT, Baker GJ, Foreman JH, Abbott LC.The frequency of communication between the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints was investigated in 27 horses and 12 ponies. After the injection of diluted latex into the tarsometatarsal joints using the plantarolateral approach, the horses and ponies were walked for 200 meters. Latex was found in the distal intertarsal joints of 19 of 73 tarsi (26% communication) at necropsy. In 3 tarsi, latex was also found in the proximal intertarsal and tarsocrural joints.
Nagy A, Dyson S.There are no detailed data on complications of sacroiliac (SI) joint region injections or on the variability of the methods and circumstances of injections among clinicians. Objective: To describe complications following diagnostic, therapeutic and combined SI joint region injections and the details of how these are routinely performed by a large number of clinicians. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Methods: Clinicians (members of American and European specialist colleges and veterinarians known to the authors), invited by email, who had performed ≥1 SI joint region injection,...