Neurology in horses encompasses the study of the equine nervous system, including its structure, function, and associated disorders. The equine nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes nerves extending throughout the body. Neurological conditions in horses can manifest as gait abnormalities, behavioral changes, or sensory deficits. Common neurological disorders include equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Diagnostic approaches may involve clinical evaluation, imaging techniques, and laboratory tests. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of neurological disorders in horses.
Knopp U, Christmann F, Reusche E, Sepehrnia A.Numerous types of materials have been evaluated over the past decades in the quest for the ideal dural replacement, but no product fully meets all the applicable criteria. This paper presents the long-term results of an animal trial of a collagen biomatrix (TISSUDURA, Baxter AG, Vienna/Austria) for the repair and regeneration of dural defects. This product provides a matrix with a special layer structure and consists of pure naturally cross-linked collagen of equine origin. The comparable material is Tutoplast Dura, a human cadaveric-derived dural graft preserved in a multiple stage chemical p...
Wijnberg ID, Back W, de Jong M, Zuidhof MC, van den Belt AJ, van der Kolk JH.Systematically performed EMG needle examination of muscles provides essential information about the functional aspects of the motor unit. However, clinical studies in which information is given on the diagnostic and discriminative values of electromyography (EMG) in the horse are scarce. Objective: To determine to what extent inclusion of EMG analysis in clinical examination contributes to determination of type and localisation of abnormality. Methods: EMG analysis, complete clinical examination and diagnosis of 108 horses (mean +/- s.d. age 75 +/- 3.8 years; bodyweight 548 +/- 86 kg; height 1...
McBride SD, Hemmings A.Stress-induced changes in mesoaccumbens dopamine neurophysiology have been associated with the development of stereotypic behaviour in in-bred strains of laboratory rodents. This experiment evaluated whether similar changes are associated with environmentally-induced stereotypic behaviour in a higher-vertebrate species, the horse. D1- and D2-like dopamine receptor densities (B(max)) and dissociation constants (K(d)) were measured in control (n=9) and stereotypy (n=9) horses in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, putamen, substantia nigra and ventral tegmentum brain regions. Results reveale...
Döpke C, Gröne A, von Borstel M, von Oppen T, Boéve MH, Baumgärtner W.A 17-year-old horse developed severe proptosis of the left eye over a period of 1.5 years. At post-mortem examination a neoplasm was found involving the left ethmoid bone, left maxillary sinus, left orbit, left superior turbinate, and the left eye. Tumour cells were arranged in nests separated by a fine fibrovascular stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were labelled by antibodies against neurofilament protein, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein antigen, but were negative for chromogranin A, cytokeratin and desmin. Electronmicroscopically, the cells sho...
Malisauskas M, Ostman J, Darinskas A, Zamotin V, Liutkevicius E, Lundgren E, Morozova-Roche LA.In amyloid diseases, it is not evident which protein aggregates induce cell death via specific molecular mechanisms and which cause damage because of their mass accumulation and mechanical properties. We showed that equine lysozyme assembles into soluble amyloid oligomers and protofilaments at pH 2.0 and 4.5, 57 degrees C. They bind thioflavin-T and Congo red similar to common amyloid structures, and their morphology was monitored by atomic force microscopy. Molecular volume evaluation from microscopic measurements allowed us to identify distinct types of oligomers, ranging from tetramer to oc...
Prieto D, Arcos LR, Martínez P, Benedito S, García-Sacristán A, Hernández M.The distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunorective nerves and the receptors involved in the effects of NPY upon electrical field stimulation (EFS)- and noradrenaline (NA)-elicited contractions were investigated in horse penile small arteries. NPY-immunoreactive nerves were widely distributed in the erectile tissues with a particularly high density around penile intracavernous small arteries. In small arteries isolated from the proximal part of the corpora cavernosa, NPY (30 nM) produced a variable modest enhancement of the contractions elicited by both EFS and NA. At the same concentration...
Tukov FF, Rimoldi JM, Matthews JC.Repin, a major constituent in extracts of the plant Centaurea repens is thought to be the active principal responsible for the development of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia (ENE), a fatal Parkinson-like neurodegenerative disorder in horses. Although the exact mechanism by which ingestion of this weed causes ENE is uncertain, a limited body of experimental evidence suggests a critical role for the glutathione redox system. In the present study, the mechanism of repin neurotoxicity was examined in PC12 cells with a focus on determining the role of glutathione (GSH) in repin-induced mitoch...
Brosnan RJ, LeCouteur RA, Steffey EP, Imai A, Farver TB.To determine whether high intracranial pressure (ICP) during spontaneous ventilation (SV) in anesthetized horses coincides with an increase in intracranial elastance (ie, change in ICP per unit change of intracranial volume). Methods: 6 adult horses. Methods: Anesthesia was induced and maintained in each horse for 5 hours with isoflurane at a constant dose equal to 1.2 times the minimum alveolar concentration. Direct ICP measurements were obtained by use of a strain gauge transducer inserted in the subarachnoid space, and arterial blood pressure was measured from a carotid artery. Physiologic ...
McCrory P, Turner M, Murray J.The case is reported of a retired professional jockey with progressive memory loss. The concern is that he may be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy or the "punch drunk syndrome".
Foreman JH, Constable PD, Waggoner AL, Levy M, Eppley RM, Smith GW, Tumbleson ME, Haschek WM.The objective of this experiment was to characterize a dose-dependent toxic effect of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and to document initial neurologic signs, clinical progression, and terminal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes in horses administered FB1 IV. Seventeen healthy horses were administered 0.00 (n = 4), 0.01 (n = 3), 0.05 (n = 3), 0.10 (n = 3), or 0.20 mg (n = 4) of purified FB1 IV q24h. When neurologic abnormalities observed by a masked observer became severe, atlanto-occipital CSF taps were performed and CSF pressure, cell count, cytology, protein, albumin and glucose concentrations, and crea...
Recio P, Prieto D, Martínez MP, García P, Rivera L, Benedito S, Martínez AC, Sacristán AG, Orensanz LM, Hernández M.Our aim was to study the presence of noradrenergic nerves and to characterize the alpha-adrenergic receptors involved in the contractions to electrical field stimulation and to alpha-adrenergic agonists of the horse penile deep dorsal vein. Noradrenergic fibres were visualized by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). For functional studies, the responses of the venous rings to electrical field stimulation and to alpha-adrenergic agonists (noradrenaline, phenylephrine and BHT 920) were studied in the absence and the presence of noradrenergic transmissio...
Nasu T, Sueishi A, Morimoto M.We used immunohistochemical techniques to analyze the localization and distribution of the catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the neuropeptides methionine-endephalin (M-Enk), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calretinin (Cal), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and galanin (Gal) in the stellate ganglia of two species of domestic animal (cattle and horses). NPY, VIP and Gal immunoreactive neurons (both cell body and nerve fiber) were observed in the stellate ganglia of both animals. M-Enk and CGRP immunoreactive ne...
Nollet H, Deprez P, van Ham L, Dewulf J, Decleir A, Vanderstraeten G.Cervical spinal cord dysfunction is a common problem in equine medicine and the currently available tests give no objective information about the functionality of the nervous tracts. Therefore, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed in 84 healthy horses of different height in order to have an objective measure for the integrity of the descending motor tracts in normal horses. Objective: To obtain reference values for onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of magnetic motor evoked potentials (MMEPs) and to evaluate the possible effect of height, age and gender on the neurophysi...
Yadernuk LM.A 13-year-old broodmare was referred for weight loss and left facial nerve paralysis. Bilateral temporohyoid osteoarthropathy was diagnosed based on proliferation of the temporohyoid joints and stylohyoid bones on radiographs and guttural pouch endoscopy. The left side was more severely affected. Treatment resulted in little or no improvement.
Katz LM, Marr CM, Elliott J.Substance P (SP), a potent vasodilator, has been detected in equine digital sensory-motor nerves. The aim of the study was to characterise the functional responses of equine digital blood vessels to exogenous SP. Pre-constricted equine digital arteries (EDA) and veins (EDV) vasodilated in a biphasic, endothelium- and concentration-dependent manner to SP. A nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 300 microm) inhibited both phases of the relaxation response curve of EDAs to SP by >70%. In EDVs, the first relaxant phase to SP was largely...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Verschooten F, Vanderstraeten G, Deprez P.To determine the usefulness of magnetic motor-evoked potentials (MMEPs) for assessing the integrity of the cervical, thoracic, and thoracolumbar spinal cord in horses with bilateral hind limb ataxia. Methods: 9 horses and 1 donkey with bilateral hind limb ataxia of various degrees. Methods: The motor cortex was stimulated magnetically, and MMEPs were recorded bilaterally from the extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial muscles. Results: In 5 horses and 1 donkey, MMEPs with normal onset latencies and peak-to-peak amplitude were recorded from the extensor carpi radialis muscles, whereas abnor...
Brosnan RJ, Steffey EP, LeCouteur RA, Farver TB, Imai A.To test the hypothesis that isoflurane-anesthetized horses during controlled ventilation and spontaneous ventilation exhibit temporal changes in cerebral hemodynamics, as measured by intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, that reflect temporal changes in systemic arterial pressure. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized in left lateral recumbency with 1.57% isoflurane in O2 for 5 hours in 2 experiments by use of either controlled ventilation (with normocapnia) or spontaneous ventilation (with hypercapnia) in a randomized crossover design. Intracrania...
Sisó S, Ferrer I, Pumarola M.Numerous swollen neurons and multiple dystrophic axons were observed in the gracillis and cuneatus nuclei of two male Arabian horses, aged six and 12 months of age, with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Swollen neurons and dystrophic axons showed synaptophysin, synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa, syntaxin-1 and alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity. Moreover, dystrophic axons were strongly immunopositive against the ubiquitin protein and against the anti-phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein. Abnormal expression of integral synaptic vesicle, synaptic vesicle-associated presyna...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Dewulf J, Vanderstraeten G, Deprez P.The influence of coil position on the peak-to-peak amplitude and onset latency of transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (MMEPs) in the extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial muscles of horses was evaluated. Seven different stimulating coil positions were obtained by constructing a frame on the forehead. Two stimulation intensities (80% and 100% of maximal stimulator output) and two different coil currents (clockwise and counter-clockwise) were tested. For both recording sites MMEPs with the shortest onset latency and the largest peak-to-peak amplitude were detected when the coil wa...
Hellyer PW, Bai L, Supon J, Quail C, Wagner AE, Mama KR, Magnusson KR.To test the hypothesis that the distribution, density, and subtype of opioid and alpha (alpha)-2 adrenergic receptors within the central nervous system (CNS) are significantly different between horse and dog. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Three dogs (3 years of age) and three horses (2-5 years of age). Animals were opioid- and alpha-2 agonist-free at the time of euthanasia. Methods: Brain tissue was obtained at 126 days post-surgery from dogs and 72 days post-surgery from horses. The brains were removed, sectioned coronally into 1-cm slabs, frozen in methylbutane, which was...
Peters M, Brandt K, Wohlsein P.An intracranial epidermoid cyst was diagnosed in a Haflinger gelding aged 12 years suffering from episodes of neurological disturbance, apathy and fever. The extracerebral cyst was located in the region of the tentorium cerebelli and measured 9 x 8 x 5 cm. It displaced the cerebral hemispheres anteriorly and compressed the cerebellum and brainstem underneath. Histologically, the cyst was lined by keratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium and contained keratin scales, debris, focal haemorrhages, and degenerating inflammatory cells. The epithelium was supported by a vascularized fibrous capsu...
Spadavecchia C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Andersen OK, Spadavecchia L, Doherr M, Schatzmann U.To compare nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) evoked from the distal aspect of the left forelimb and hind limb in conscious standing horses and to investigate NWR recruitment for graded electrical stimulation intensities. Methods: 20 adult horses. Methods: Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity evoked by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the digital palmar (or plantar) nerve was recorded from the common digital extensor and cranial tibial muscles. Stimuli consisted of 25-millisecond train-of-5 constant current pulses. Current intensity was gradually increased until NWR threshold i...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Deprez P, Vanderstraeten G.Transcranial magnetic stimulation is rapidly developing as a powerful, non-invasive tool for studying the descending motor tracts in humans. The applications of the test in animals are for the moment restricted to small animals. However, this non-invasive, sensitive and painless technique appears promising as a test of motor tract function in horses where the neurological examination is mainly restricted to clinical evaluation and some ancillary tests, such as radiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and electromyography. In this review, we want to discuss the history, basic principles, techn...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Gasthuys F, Dewulf J, Vanderstraeten G, Deprez P.Horses need to be sedated before they are investigated by transcranial magnetic stimulation because of the mild discomfort induced by the evoked muscle contraction and the noise of stimulation. This paper describes the influence of a combination of detomidine (10 microg/kg bodyweight) and a low dose of buprenorphine (2.4 microg/kg) on the onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of magnetic motor-evoked potentials in normal horses. There were no significant differences between measurements of these parameters made before the horses were sedated and measurements made 10 and 30 minutes after the...
Porter MB, Long MT, Getman LM, Giguère S, MacKay RJ, Lester GD, Alleman AR, Wamsley HL, Franklin RP, Jacks S, Buergelt CD, Detrisac CJ.To determine signalment, clinical findings, results of diagnostic testing, outcome, and postmortem findings in horses with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 46 horses with WNV encephalomyelitis. Methods: Clinical data were extracted from medical records of affected horses. Results: On the basis of clinical signs and results of serologic testing, WNV encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 46 of 56 horses with CNS signs. Significantly more males than females were affected. Increased rectal temperature, weakness or ataxia, and muscle fasciculations were t...
Solbrig MV, Koob GF.Borna Disease Virus (BDV) is a neurotropic RNA virus that is worldwide in distribution, causing movement and behavior disorders in a wide range of animal species. BDV has also been reported to be associated with neuropsychiatric diseases of humans by serologic study and by recovery of nucleic acid or virus from blood or brain. Natural infections of horses and sheep produce encephalitis with erratic excited behaviors, hyperkinetic movement or gait abnormalities; naturally infected cats have ataxic "staggering disease." Experimentally infected primates develop hyperactivity, aggression, disinhib...
Berardinelli P, Barazzoni AM, Russo V, Brunetti O, Della Torre G, Scapolo PA, Muttini A, Bortolami R.Based on previous observations that capsaicin can selectively damage group III and IV afferents and induce muscle fibre transformation, we hypothesized that eliminating, by means of capsaicin, the group III and IV afferents of a peripheral territory it could lead to a fibre transformation in a muscle involved in the flexor reflexes of the same peripheral territory. Therefore, capsaicin was injected into the palmar nerves of the forelimb of the horse to investigate if eliminating group III and IV afferents from the hand of the horse a muscle fibre transition would occur in the flexor carpi radi...
Westerman TL, Poulsen KP, Schlipf JW, Valentine BA.A 14-year-old Morgan gelding was presented for progressive weakness and muscle atrophy. The horse was initially diagnosed with equine protozoal myelitis based on history, physical examination, and laboratory diagnostics. Despite therapy, the horse declined clinically and was euthanized. Necropsy revealed a rare form of neurotropic lymphoma, described in this report. Lymphome de cellules-B riches en cellules-T neurotropes chez un hongre Morgan âgé de 14 ans. Un hongre Morgan âgé de 14 ans a été présenté pour une faiblesse progressive et une atrophie musculaire. On a d’abord diagnostiq...
Martin-Flores M.This article briefly reviews the physiology of the neuromuscular junction and the pharmacologic mechanisms of neuromuscular blocking agents. The clinical use of modern agents is discussed. Monitoring techniques used to assess the level of neuromuscular block and to exclude residual paralysis at the end of an anesthetic procedure are reviewed.
Kuwamura M, Iwaki M, Yamate J, Kotani T, Sakuma S, Yamashita A.A 9-year-old male horse showed emaciation, weakness and trembling and was euthanatized. Histopathological examinations revealed loss, swelling and chromatolysis of motor neurons throughout the spinal ventral horns, axonal degeneration of the ventral spinal roots. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were distributed in degenerated spinal ventral neurons. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted of aggregations of granular dense material and a few vesicles. They reacted positively with polyclonal antibody against ubiquitin. The present case was diagnosed as equine motor neuron disease, which ...
Prieto D, Hernandez M, Rivera L, Ordaz E, Garcia-Sacristan A.The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution and density of catecholaminergic nerve fibres and cells in the equine ureter by using immunohistochemical techniques to localise the enzyme tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH). TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) nerve fibres entered the wall of the ureter as adventitial nerve trunks accompanying the blood vessels. These trunks repeatedly branched as they coursed through the muscular layer towards the epithelium, forming muscular, perivascular and subepithelial nerve plexuses. TH-IR nerve fibres were especially numerous in the pelvic and intravesical ...
Wong D, Wilkins PA, Bain FT, Brockus C.Neonatal encephalopathy is a common central nervous system disorder of neonatal foals and human infants, resulting in clinical signs such as lethargy, inappropriate behavior, seizures, and other neurologic deficits. Although neonatal encephalopathy is frequently seen in equine practice, a paucity of veterinary clinical and basic science research data is available. Therefore, the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this disorder in equids, such as energy deprivation, excess excitatory amino acids, and free radical injury, have been extrapolated from human medicine. Equine veterinarians have used var...
Robinson JA, Naylor JM, Crichlow EC.The use of electromyography (EMG) as a diagnostic aid for equine hyperkalemic periodic paresis (EHPP) was investigated in seven affected and seven control horses. Affected horses were confirmed positive for EHPP either by elevated serum potassium concentration with clinical signs of myotonia, or by inducing hyperkalemia and clinical signs using oral potassium chloride challenge. All horses were asymptomatic at the time EMG was performed, using bipolar fine wire needle electrodes. The myopotentials were recorded on magnetic tape and displayed on paper charts for analysis. Insertional and restin...
Cummings JF, de Lahunta A, Summers BA, Mohammed HO, Divers TJ, Valentine BA, Trembicki-Graves K.Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is a sporadic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has been identified recently in horses of different breeds in North America. The cause is unknown. Pathologic changes which occur in spinal and certain brain stem motor neurons include chromatolysis, swelling, neurofilamentous accumulation, and development of eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. Punctate eosinophilic inclusions, the type usually encountered in degenerating neurons, resembled Bunina bodies at the light microscopic level, but differed in their ultrastructural composition. These and less...
Erickson HH, Kitchell RL.In the last 2 decades there have been substantial advances in our knowledge of the scientific basis of the mechanisms of pain. Nociceptors or pain receptors are widespread in the skin and tissues of animals; chemical mediation of nociceptor excitation may provide a key for understanding the peripheral phenomena related to pain. The expression of pain in animals involves multiple ascending and descending branches, as well as specialized pain-signaling mechanisms in the spinal cord. The importance of these different pathways varies with species and circumstances. Endogenous neural systems in the...
Cummings JF, Sellers AF, Lowe JE.The distribution of the putative motor excitatory neurotransmitter, substance P, was studied immunocytochemically in the left dorsal colon of four normal control ponies and three ponies with amitraz-induced impaction colic. Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the control ponies was observed in nerve fibres in all layers of the bowel wall and in the nerve cell bodies of the enteric ganglia. The substance P-like immunoreactivity was clearly more intense in the cell bodies of submucosal ganglia than in those of the myenteric ganglia. The internodal nerve strands of the myenteric plexus were very...
McGorum BC, Wilson R, Pirie RS, Mayhew IG, Kaur H, Aruoma OI.The aetiopathogenesis of equine grass sickness (EGS) is unknown. The role of free radical-mediated neuronal damage has not previously been investigated in this condition. Objective: To investigate the potential contribution of oxidative damage and antioxidant status to neurodegeneration in EGS. Methods: Systemic levels of surrogate biomarkers were determined in 10 horses with acute EGS and in 2 control populations; 10 healthy horses co-grazing with the 10 EGS horses at the onset of clinical disease, and 10 healthy mares grazing where EGS has not been reported. Results: EGS horses had alteratio...
Kitchell RL, Stromberg MW, Davis LH.Quantitative studies were made of cells in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in the horse, dog, cat, pig, sheep, goat, and calf. This nucleus was larger in ruminants than in nonruminants. Some cells in all parts of the nucleus supplied visceral structures in the head, cervical, thoracic, and abdominal regions; however, a definite topographic localization did exist within the nucleus. Eighty percent of the cells which supplied the abdominal viscera were in the rostral and rostral-middle regions. The cells which supplied the thoracic viscera were distributed almost equally within the r...
Bahar S, Bolat D, Selcuk ML.Although the cervical spinal cord (CSC) of the horse has particular importance in diseases of CNS, there is very little information about its segmental morphometry. The objective of the present study was to determine the morphometric features of the CSC segments in the horse and possible relationships among the morphometric features. The segmented CSC from five mature animals was used. Length, weight, diameter, and volume measurements of the segments were performed macroscopically. Lengths and diameters of segments were measured histologically, and area and volume measurements were performed u...
Fu Z, Shi J.BACKGROUND The differences between the peripheral and central branches of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the expression of tubulin post-translational modifications (acetylation and deacetylation) between damaged peripheral and central branches of DRG neurons. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups with 10 rats in each group. These five groups consisted of spinal nerve ligation (SNL) at 24 hour and 48 hour, and cauda equina compression (CEC) at 24 hour and 48 hour, and a sham group. SNL inj...
Palmieri G, Panu R, Asole A, Farina V, Sanna L, Gabbi C.The most developed and organized lamina running trough the biceps brachii muscle belly forms a well-marked tendinous intersection connecting the proximal tendon with the distal one. Moreover, the lacertus fibrosus arises from this lamina close to the distal tendon and blends with the fascia of the forearm and joins the extensor carpi radialis muscle. The nerve supply for the biceps tendinous intersection arises from the intramuscular rami of the musculo-cutaneous nerve, whereas the lacertus fibrosus is provided with some cutaneous rami of the same nerve. The biceps brachii tendinous intersecti...
Duncan ID, Schneider RK, Hammang JP.The suprascapular nerve from 14 horses, which had no clinical evidence of spinatus muscle atrophy, were obtained to determine whether the nerve was sub-clinically compressed at the scapular edge. The nerves were divided into three portions, proximal and distal to the scapular edge and as it reflected around it. In nine horses there was evidence of a chronic neuropathy which varied in severity and which was most severe at the site of reflection, where the nerve appeared constricted by a tendinous band. At this site the predominant change was that of chronic demyelination and remyelination, with...
Fjordbakk CT, Revold T, Goodwin D, Piercy RJ.The pathogenesis of bilateral dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion (DLC) of horses is unknown but might be associated with intrinsic laryngeal muscle weakness. Objective: To investigate histopathological characteristics of the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis, the cricothyroid (CT) and the cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscles in DLC-affected horses and compare these with unaffected controls. Our hypotheses were that evidence of neurogenic atrophy of the CT or cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscles would be found in DLC-affected horses and that observed changes would be symmetrically (l...
Widmer WR, Blevins WE, Jakovljevic S, Levy M, Teclaw RF, Han CM, Hurd CD.A prospective clinical trial comparing adverse postmyelographic effects and myelographic quality of metrizamide and iohexol was conducted. Using a predetermined, randomized assignment, 24 horses exhibiting neurologic signs were administered either metrizamide (180 mgl/ml) or iohexol (180 mgl/ml) via cerebellomedullary puncture. Each horse was evaluated postmyelographically for adverse effects. Myelographic quality was assessed by a numerical scoring method. Adverse effects were observed more frequently with metrizamide (21) compared with iohexol (6) myelography (p < 0.05). Seizures, intensific...
Labadia A, Rivera L, Costa G, Garcia-Sacristan A.alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in detrusor muscle and bladder base of horses were investigated by in vitro responses of smooth muscle strips to exogenous agonist and antagonist drugs. Noradrenaline, isoprenaline and salbutamol induced relaxation of detrusor muscle strips which was significantly inhibited by propranolol and butoxamine suggesting that the response is mediated by beta-2 adrenergic receptors. In the urinary bladder base noradrenaline, phenylephrine and B-HT 920 induced strong contractile effects. These contractile responses were inhibited by the alpha antagonist phenoxybenzam...
Ruby RE, Janes JG.The variety of neurologic diseases which affect horses makes pathologic examination of the nervous system a complex and lengthy process. An understanding of the common causes of neurologic disease, antemortem neurolocalization, and supplementation of the necropsy examination with ancillary testing will help to diagnose a large number of causes of neurologic disease. A general understanding of neuropathology and collaborative relationship with your local pathologists will aid in the definitive diagnosis of neurologic diseases.
McBride SD, Roberts K, Hemmings AJ, Ninomiya S, Parker MO.Stress and genotype elicit changes in impulse control in a range of species that are attributable to adaptations in both the central and peripheral nervous system. We examined aspects of this mechanism in the horse by assessing the effect of a dopamine receptor genotype (DRD4) and central dopaminergic tone (measured via spontaneous blink rate [SBR] and behavioral initiation rate [BIR]), on measures of impulsivity, compulsivity (3-choice serial reaction time task) and sympathetic/ parasympathetic system balance (heart rate variability [HRV]). Genotype did not have a significant effect on any of...
Panu R, Bo Minelli L, Sanna L, Zedda M, Acone F, Gazza F, Palmieri G.The retractor clitoridis muscle originates from the coccygeal vertebrae in the cow, ewe, goat and mare, and from the anal musculature in the sow. It terminates at the base of the clitoris. In all the species considered, a vegetative innervation was found. This was represented by isolated or grouped ganglion cells. Nervous sensitive supply was also present. This was represented by Pacinian, Pacinian-like and Golgi-Mazzoni's corpuscles, and by Krauses's end bulbs. A notable difference was found in the amount and type of these receptors. They were numerous in the sow, ewe and goat, and rare in th...
King LS.The behavior of a fixed strain of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus was studied in guinea pigs after intraocular inoculation. Such inoculation concerns the central and not the peripheral nervous system. The susceptibility to intraocular injection lies midway between the highly virulent intracerebral and the quite avirulent peripheral routes. The virus must act for 10 to 13 hours in order to induce a fatal infection. Removal of the inoculated eyeball before this interval almost always prevents fatality although it may allow immunity to develop. The virus, at suitable intervals after inject...
Reesink HL, Hermanson JW, Cheetham J, Mu L, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV, Ducharme NG.As part of investigation into laryngeal stability and reanimation using functional electrical stimulation, the cricothyroid muscle might be utilised to increase laryngeal cross-sectional area in horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. For optimal electrode placement and muscle recruitment, the neuroanatomy and excitability of the equine cricothyroid muscle needs to be defined. Objective: To describe the anatomy, innervation and function of the equine cricothyroid muscle and its contribution to laryngeal diameter. Methods: Seventeen equine larynges were collected at necropsy and 12 were gro...
Szalay F.The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the structural maturation of the horse brain in the critical period of development emergence of coordinated locomotion. Equine brains from 14 days before expected birth to adulthood were fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. After taking the outer parameters of the brains, full series of large-area coronal sections were prepared on a special microtome and stained with Nissl's cresyl violet and Haidenhain's iron-haematoxylin. Microscopic images of sections were digitized and were subjected to computer-aided image analysis. The gross ...
Garcia-Tamayo J.The mode of development of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and the activity of acid phosphatase in the central nervous system of newborn mice were investigated. Precursor particles appeared to be formed in masses of viroplasm, migrating to the membrane of the Golgi cisterns and vacuoles or to the plasma membrane and being transformed into mature viral particles by budding. Mature viral particles were also found in the lumen of the blood vessels and around the myelin sheath of axons. Increased number of Golgi complexes and depletion of polysomes were the main ultrastructural alteratio...
Morris J, Hoang D.This article discusses a rare case of isolated xylazine overdose in a human, treated successfully with naloxone. Xylazine, typically used as a veterinary tranquilizer, acts as a potent α2 adrenergic agonist, leading to sedation, muscle relaxation, and potential respiratory depression. In this case, a female mistakenly injected herself with xylazine mistaking it for a different medication. The report discusses naloxone's role beyond opioid overdose, especially regarding substances causing central nervous system (CNS) depression via mechanisms similar to those of opioids. While naloxone is trad...
Henderson CS, Story MR, Nout-Lomas YS.To determine reasons for horses to have neck radiographs performed, the incidence of transposition of the ventral lamina of C6 onto C7 (TC67), and the final diagnoses for all horses. Our hypotheses were to find a similar incidence of TC67, as has been previously reported, and an increased incidence of neck pain and dysfunction in horses with TC67. Methods: 135 horses. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Medical records of 135 horses with cervical vertebral column radiographs between 2020 and 2022 were assessed. Patient signalment, reasons for radiographs, radiographic findings, and dia...
Becker R, Haenssgen K, Precht C, Khoma OZ, Hlushchuk R, Koch C, Kaessmeyer S, de Preux M.Equine trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a painful neuropathic disorder comparable to trigeminal neuralgia in humans. The selective destruction of pain fibers within the trigeminal ganglion, called rhizotomy, is the surgical treatment of choice for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia refractory to medical treatment in humans. The human trigeminal ganglion is enclosed by a dural recess called the Meckel's or trigeminal cave, in which the ganglion is surrounded by a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled subarachnoid space. During glycerol rhizotomy, glycerol is percutaneously injected in this CSF-filled...
Haussler KK, le Jeune SS, MacKechnie-Guire R, Latif SN, Clayton HM.The defining characteristic of laterality is the dominance of one side of the brain controlling specific functions of paired organs or on one side of the body. Structural and functional asymmetries are ubiquitous in horses and range from anatomical features (e.g., the length of long bones) to the gathering of sensory information (e.g., which eye is used to observe unfamiliar scenes) and motor functions (e.g., left-right differences in locomotion). There is a common tendency to assign observed structural or functional asymmetries to lateralization, which often involves more than a simple left-r...
Öztürk S, Aydoğdu O, Sari Z.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hippotherapy simulator on balance, postural control, mobility, functional capacity and independence level in people with stroke. This study involved 26 people with stroke aged 18-65, who were randomly assigned to a Hippotherapy Simulator Group (HSG; = 13) and a Conventional Exercise Group (CEG; = 13). Patients underwent assessments using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PAS-S), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), 2-Minute Walking Test (2-MWT), and Barthel Daily Living Act...
