Topic:In Vivo
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.
Heparin-induced agglutination of erythrocytes in horses. Heparin was administered subcutaneously 2 times a day for 4 days to 5 horses. An additional group of 5 horses was used as time-matched controls. Significant decreases in PCV, erythrocyte count, and hemoglobin concentration were observed during heparin therapy. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the heparin-treated horses increased to a peak value of 66.1 fl on the last day of treatment. Erythrocyte creatine concentration and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased moderately during the treatment. These data indicated that the rapid, profound increase in MCV during heparin therap...
Effects of inhibiting 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase on plasma progesterone and other steroids in the pregnant mare near term. Epostane, a competitive inhibitor of 3 beta-HSD was administered intravenously to a pregnant mare between 292 and 330 days of gestation at doses of 1-3 mg/kg/min. Plasma progesterone concentrations fell rapidly during epostane infusion in both the artery and uterine vein and remained significantly depressed for 4-5 h after the start of infusion. The venous arterial (V-A) plasma concentration difference in progesterone across the uterus also decreased significantly in response to epostane infusion. There were no significant changes in plasma progesterone or in the V-A concentration difference i...
Concentrations of uterine luminal prostaglandins in mares with acute and persistent endometritis. Intrauterine infusion of 1 per cent oyster glycogen solution was used to induce acute endometritis in four genitally normal mares. Numbers of viable neutrophils recovered in uterine washings had increased by 1 h after infusion and remained elevated for at least 72 h. There was a significant correlation between numbers of viable neutrophils and total protein concentrations and between prostaglandin (PG)F and PGE2 concentrations in washings. There was also a significant relationship between concentrations of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro PGF2 alpha in plasma and PGF in washings. Intrauterine concentrat...
Experimental large colon resection at the cecocolic ligament in the horse. Ten normal horses had approximately 95% of the length of the large colon resected with a side-to-side anastomosis between right ventral and right dorsal colon performed with surgical stapling equipment. Four horses died shortly after surgery of colitis (1 horse) or failure of the TA 90 transection staple line (3 horses). Another horse died 4 months after surgery from disseminated streptococcal infection but had recovered well from the colon resection. Five horses survived long term (18 months) with no clinical evidence of adverse effects of the resection. Surviving horses had weight loss and s...
The optics of comparative ophthalmoscopy. One factor peculiar to the practice of comparative ophthalmoscopy is the very large variation in ocular size of the animals examined, a factor which is ignored in current textbook treatments of the subject. We have computed values of lateral magnification, axial magnification, angular field of view and linear field of view for 19 species of terrestrial vertebrates. The dimensional value of a 1 diopter change in direct ophthalmoscopic focus was also determined. The anterior focal length of the eye in air and the vitreal refractive index were the intrinsic optical parameters of the animal's eye ...
Clinical survey of antibodies against red blood cells in horses after homologous blood transfusion. Serum samples of 20 horses were evaluated for antibodies against RBC after homologous blood transfusion. Transfusion-associated antibodies against RBC were detected in 10 horses. Antibodies recognizing horse blood group antigens Aa, Ae, Db, and Dc were identified. Antibodies against Aa were found in all samples from Aa-negative horses that were transfused with Aa-positive RBC. Antibodies against Aa persisted for at least 1 year after transfusion. Antibodies against Ae were detected in 7 of 8 horses transfused with Ae-positive RBC. Initial appearance and persistence of antibodies against Ae dif...
Evaluation of the repair process of cartilage defects of the equine third carpal bone with and without subchondral bone perforation. To determine the effect of subchondral bone drilling (forage) on the cartilage repair process after injury has occurred, a cartilage defect (1 cm in diameter) was created on the radial facet of the proximal surface of each third carpal bone in 6 adult horses. In one of the third carpal bones (right or left thoracic limb) of each horse, a 1-cm cartilage defect was created, and 5 holes (1 mm in diameter and 10 mm deep) were drilled through the subchondral bone into the cancellous bone. In the other thoracic limb, an identical defect was created, but not drilled. Analyses of cell numbers and type...
Pharmacokinetics and endometrial tissue concentrations of ticarcillin given to the horse by intravenous and intrauterine routes. Plasma and endometrial tissue concentrations of ticarcillin were measured in healthy mares. In the first of the 3 separate phases comprising the study, ticarcillin disodium (30 mg/kg) was administered IV. The mean peak concentration in endometrial tissue, 12.9 micrograms/g, was attained at 30 minutes. The plasma half-life of the drug in the 6 mares was 0.83 +/- 0.22 hour. Six grams of the drug was diluted in 250 ml of sodium chloride injection USP (2nd phase) and in 60 ml of sodium chloride injection USP (3rd phase). These dilutions were administered by intrauterine infusion. In phase 2, the m...
Lentivirus genomic organization: the complete nucleotide sequence of the env gene region of equine infectious anemia virus. The nucleotide sequence of the envelope (env) gene region of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a member of the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses, has been determined from a clone of integrated proviral DNA for which the gag and pol sequences have been reported previously. The env gene is 859 codons in length and the sequence reported here is consistent with the published biochemical properties of EIAV glycoproteins. The env gene region of EIAV shares considerable structural similarities but negligible sequence homologies with the env genes of other members of the lentivirus subfamily, ...
Arthritis and panuveitis as manifestations of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a Wisconsin pony. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi caused panuveitis and arthritis in a pony. Spirochetes were detected by direct immunofluorescence in the anterior chamber of the eye. The carpal joints had severe degenerative joint disease, with synovial proliferation. The synovium and serum had B burgdorferi antibody titers of 1:1024. The pony lived in an area of Wisconsin where infection with B burgdorferi is endemic in human beings. Previously, serum antibodies to B burgdorferi had been found in horses, but disease had not been reported.
Motility and fertility of equine spermatozoa extended in bovine serum albumin and sucrose. Inclusion of either 1 or 3% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (BSA) in 8.6, 10, or 12% sucrose enhanced the maintenance of equine sperm motility in vitro at 38 degrees C for 8 h. There was a trend toward higher percent motile spermatozoa (PMS) at 16 and 24 h of incubation in semen samples containing BSA than in those that did not. The highest concentration of sucrose (12%) was slightly less effective in supporting PMS than either of the lower concentrations. However, sucrose concentrations had no apparent effect on rate of forward movement (RFM) of spermatozoa. Pregnancy and foaling rates were simila...
Pulmonary changes associated with flotation techniques in the treatment of skeletal injuries in the horse. Six adult horses with normal blood gas values, normal thoracic radiographs and free from overt signs of respiratory disease were confined in flotation tanks for periods from one to seven weeks. With one exception, they all coughed, had a variable amount of nasal discharge and, at autopsy, showed cranio-ventral alterations to their lungs which were characterised by patchy irregular areas of absorption atelectasis with or without an inflammatory reaction and an accompanying alveolar emphysema.
Effect of the injection site on the pharmacokinetics of procaine penicillin G in horses. The plasma penicillin concentrations were determined in 5 horses given an IV injection of sodium penicillin G; plasma penicillin concentrations were also determined in a crossover experiment, where animals were given procaine penicillin G subcutaneously at 1 site and IM at 4 sites. The mean penicillin plasma peak concentration and bioavailability were highest after the drug was injected in the neck and biceps musculature. Injections in the gluteal muscle and in the subcutaneous sites resulted in similar, but lower, more persistent penicillin plasma concentrations and a lower bioavailability th...
Unconventional aqueous humor outflow of microspheres perfused into the equine eye. Normal drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the equine eye occurred through conventional and unconventional routes. To determine the degree of uveoscleral outflow in the pony, 1- and 3-microns (diam) microspheres were perfused through the anterior chamber for 60 and 90 minutes. Two eyes were treated with pilocarpine before perfusion of spheres to observe any effect on outflow. Presence of spheres was detected by scanning electron microscopy and verified by light microscopy. By 60 minutes of the perfusion, 1- and 3-microns spheres thoroughly infiltrated the anterior uveal trab...
Effects of a phenylbutazone paste in ponies: model of acute nonimmune inflammation. In a 12-day treatment schedule, 5 ponies were given orally a paste formulation of phenylbutazone (PBZ) and 5 matched ponies were given equivalent doses of a placebo paste. On day 12, a mild, nonimmune inflammatory reaction was induced subcutaneously in the neck of each pony by inserting sterile, polyester sponge strips soaked in a 2% carrageenan solution. Exudate was collected at 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours by serial removal of sponges. There were no significant (P less than 0.05) differences in exudate protein concentration and leukocyte numbers between the treatment groups, but the group given PB...
The biotransformation and urinary excretion of dexamethasone in equine male castrates. The pro-drugs of dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, are frequently used as anti-inflammatory steroids in equine veterinary practice. In the present study the biotransformation and urinary excretion of tritium labelled dexamethasone were investigated in cross-bred castrated male horses after therapeutic doses. Between 40-50% of the administered radioactivity was excreted in the urine within 24 h; a further 10% being excreted over the next 3 days. The urinary radioactivity was largely excreted in the unconjugated steroid fraction. In the first 24 h urine sample, 26-36% of the total dose was...
Preliminary study of tendon biopsy in the horse. A series of experimental tendon biopsies is described. Three biopsies were taken from the lateral digital extensor tendon (LDET) and three from the superficial flexor tendon (SFT). The LDET biopsies resulted in little discomfort whereas the SFT biopsies led to temporary lameness. The tendons were examined histologically up to 99 days after the biopsies were removed. In all of the tendons the defect filled with granulation tissue which subsequently became organised as a longitudinally orientated collagenous scar tissue. In this small series of biopsies the histological effects of the biopsy per...
Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XX. Arthropod parasites of the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). The arthropod parasite burdens of 14 Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra), shot for survey purposes in the Mountain Zebra National Park in the eastern Cape Province, were determined. Three species of Gasterophilus larvae and 9 ixodid tick species were recovered. Larvae of Gasterophilus pecorum were the most numerous of the fly larvae recovered and Margaropus winthemi was the most abundant tick. Two horses examined in the park were infested with 3 species of Gasterophilus larvae and 7 species of ixodid ticks.
Absorption of phenylbutazone from a paste formulation administered orally to the horse. The absorption pattern of phenylbutazone was studied in five horses during administration of the drug in a paste formulation on days 1, 5, 8 and 12 of a 12-day dosing schedule. Since two or more plasma concentration peaks were usually obtained following each oral dose, it was concluded that phasic absorption was a particular feature of the oil:water formulation of the product. Possible causes of this unusual absorption pattern are discussed and the therapeutic implications of both phasic absorption and the recorded values of Cmax, tmax and AUC024 for phenylbutazone and its active metabolite ox...
Diagnostic laparoscopy in the horse. Laparoscopy was performed in 5 clinically normal horses. Abdominal fluid protein content and WBC count increased markedly in all horses. Necropsy findings were confined to an increased amount of slightly turbid abdominal fluid. Five examples of applications of laparoscopy in horses with abdominal problems indicated that laparoscopy can be a valuable diagnostic procedure in the horse.
Ultrastructural study of the equine cecum during onset of laminitis. The morphologic and pathologic changes which occurred within the cecal mucosa of 4 horses during the onset of laminitis were determined from cecal biopsy materials obtained via a cecal fistula; the laminitis was induced with carbohydrate overload. The cecal epithelial mucosa specimens were obtained at 0 (base line), 24, 32, 48, and 72 hours after horses were given carbohydrate overload, and these were fixed and subsequently photographed. Changes in the cecal epithelium were examined by transmission electron and scanning electron microscopies. These histopathologic changes indicated that the mu...
Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole given to horses by intravenous and oral routes. Serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of metronidazole were determined in 6 healthy adult horses given the drug (25 mg/kg) by IV or oral routes. The disposition of metronidazole in horses given the drug by the IV route conformed to a 2-compartment model with a distribution half-life of 0.16 hours, an elimination half-life of 2.9 hours, and a body clearance of 0.40 +/- 0.05 L/kg/hr. The oral absorption half-life was 0.40 hours, and the bioavailability, 85.0 +/- 18.6%. Peritoneal fluid concentrations were approximately equal to serum concentrations at all times, regardless of the route of ad...
The equine protease inhibitory system (Pi): abnormal expressions of PiF, PiL, and PiS1. Three cases of abnormal expression of the equine protease inhibitory alleles, Pi F, L, and S1, were observed following the examination of 30,000 plasma samples by one-dimensional acid (pH 4.6) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Characterization of the abnormal proteins in terms of isoelectric point, molecular mass, inhibitory spectra, and sialic acid content was performed using one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic techniques. The Pi F and S1 abnormalities were postulated to be the result of amino acid substitutions causing alterations in the processing of the carbohydrate side chains. No ...
Clinicopathologic study of horses surviving pyrrolizidine alkaloid (Senecio vulgaris) toxicosis. Twenty horses of various ages had inadvertently ingested alfalfa hay contaminated with Senecio vulgaris. Among them, 4 died of liver disease. Blood was collected from affected horses at monthly intervals for 7 months and at the 9th and 14th months. The following serum enzymes and chemical items were assayed: aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, BUN, glucose, cholesterol, inorganic phosphate, calcium, total protein, and albumin. Amino acid profiles, conjugated bile acids, sulfobromophthalein...
Normal motility of the cecum and right ventral colon in ponies. To study the normal motility of the cecum and right ventral colon (RVC) in 3 mature Shetland ponies, a 6-part, indwelling, intraluminal catheter system was used to measure intraluminal pressure changes. Three catheters were placed in the cecum at 10, 25, and 40 cm from the cecocolic orifice, and 3 catheters were placed in the RVC at 10, 20, and 30 cm from the cecocolic orifice. Recordings were made during the interdigestive period beginning 2 weeks after surgical operation was done. Frequent, low-amplitude peaks (0.35 +/- 0.13 coordinated peaks/min) were seen involving the cecal body and cauda...
Pi granules and related intracytoplasmic inclusions in equine Schwann cells. Suchwann cells from a variety of nerves in two adult horses and one adult pony contained perinuclear intracytoplasmic inclusion complexes consisting of lipid droplets, variably electron-dense rounded to elongated bodies and rod-shaped multilamellar structures. The latter were characteristic of pi granules of Reich. There were no significant axonal or myelin alterations associated with these inclusions. It was concluded that the inclusions are a component of normal equine Schwann cells.
Innate immunity during Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection. Intrinsic phagocytosis and killing of C. albicans by equine monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was examined during Equid Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) (subtypes 1 or 2) and Adenovirus infections. Monocyte function increased during EHV-1 subtype 2 and Adenovirus infection. Conversely, there was an impairment of monocyte ingestion during EHV-1 subtype 1 infection which was ascribed to virus replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PMN phagocytosis was not decreased in any of the infections studied. The raised levels of haemolytic complement in animals which subsequently developed...