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Equine veterinary journal2020; 52(5); 733-742; doi: 10.1111/evj.13235

Abundant osteoclasts in the subchondral bone of the juvenile Thoroughbred metacarpus suggest an important role in joint maturation.

Abstract: The administration of bisphosphonate medications, which target osteoclastic-bone remodelling, to juvenile and adult racehorses is a matter of debate owing to concerns that these molecules remain bound to the bone-mineralised matrix and may interfere with subsequent bone growth, adaptation to exercise and healing of bone microdamage in equine athletes. Osteoclasts participate in endochondral ossification, subchondral bone remodelling and bone repair. There is a knowledge gap on the role of equine osteoclast biology in the growth and maturation of joint surfaces and this information is important to inform judicious bisphosphonate use. Objective: Measure and compare the osteoclast density in the subchondral bone of Thoroughbred (TB) distal third metacarpi (McIII) at different sites, varying depths from the articular surface and with age (0-84 months). Methods: Ex vivo cadaveric study. Methods: McIIIs from foals, yearlings and adults were collected, fixed in formaldehyde and stored at 4°C. Sections were cut from the lateral hemi-metacarpus, stained and scored for cartilage degeneration. Osteoclasts were counted on immunohistochemically (Cathepsin K) stained sections. Osteoclast density was compared in regions of interest (ROIs-the sagittal ridge, axial and abaxial condyle) and also at two depths (0-3 mm and 3-6 mm) into the subchondral bone below the osteochondral junction. Results: The osteoclast density was consistently highest in the subchondral cortical bone plate (0-3 mm) when compared with the deeper trabecular bone in all age groups. Furthermore, the osteoclast density was significantly higher in juvenile Thoroughbreds (foals and yearlings) within both sites in the subchondral bone when compared with adults. Conclusions: The number of specimens available for study was restricted. Conclusions: Osteoclasts are important in normal McIII epiphyseal and articular surface maturation and have a propensity to localise at the osteochondral junction and subchondral cortical bone plate zone in juvenile Thoroughbreds.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-21 PubMed ID: 31972056DOI: 10.1111/evj.13235Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the role of osteoclasts in the bone development of juvenile Thoroughbreds, particularly in relation to joint maturation. The findings suggest that osteoclast density is highest in the subchondral cortical bone plate and significantly higher in juvenile Thoroughbreds than in adult horses, indicating a crucial role for osteoclasts in early joint maturation.

Introduction and Objectives

  • The study takes into consideration ongoing debates regarding the administration of bisphosphonate medications to juvenile and adult racehorses. This medication targets osteoclastic-bone remodelling, but it may interfere with subsequent bone growth, adaptation to exercise, and healing of bone microdamage.
  • Osteoclasts are known to assist in endochondral ossification, subchondral bone remodelling and bone repair. However, there is a gap in understanding the specific role of osteoclast biology in equine joint surface growth and maturation.
  • With an aim to bridge this gap, the study’s objective is to measure and compare osteoclast density in the subchondral bone of Thoroughbred metacarpi, in different sites, varying depths from the articular surface and with age.

Methods

  • The researchers employed an ex vivo cadaveric study. They collected the metacarpi from foals, yearlings, and adults, stored the specimens, cut sections from them, and stained them for analysis.
  • In addition to scoring specimens for cartilage degeneration, the researchers counted osteoclasts on sections stained with an immunochemistry process (Cathepsin K).
  • The density of the osteoclasts was then compared in regions of interest (ROIs), namely the sagittal ridge, axial and abaxial condyle, as well as at two depths into the subchondral bone below the osteochondral junction.

Results

  • Results indicated that the osteoclast density was consistently highest in the subchondral cortical bone plate, especially when compared with the deeper trabecular bone. This was true across all age groups.
  • Osteoclast density was significantly higher in juvenile Thoroughbreds (foals and yearlings) in both sites within the subchondral bone when compared to adults.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that osteoclasts have a crucial role in the normal metacarpi epiphyseal and articular surface maturation, especially in juvenile Thoroughbreds.
  • A limitation of the study was the restricted number of specimens available for analysis. Nevertheless, the study provides valuable insights that osteoclasts tend to localise at the osteochondral junction and subchondral cortical bone plate zone in juvenile Thoroughbreds.

Cite This Article

APA
Gilday R, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Fogarty U, Laverty S. (2020). Abundant osteoclasts in the subchondral bone of the juvenile Thoroughbred metacarpus suggest an important role in joint maturation. Equine Vet J, 52(5), 733-742. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13235

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 5
Pages: 733-742

Researcher Affiliations

Gilday, Rebecca
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département des Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Richard, Hélène
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département des Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Beauchamp, Guy
  • Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Fogarty, Ursula
  • Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Ireland.
Laverty, Sheila
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département des Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage Diseases / veterinary
  • Cartilage, Articular
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Metacarpal Bones
  • Metacarpus
  • Osteoclasts

Grant Funding

  • National Science and Engineering Council of Canada
  • the Réseau thérapie cellulaire, tissulaire et génique du Québec -ThéCell (un réseau thématique soutenu par le Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé)
  • Fonds de santé équins, Zoetis
  • Fonds du Centenaire de la Faculté de médecine Vétérinaire
  • generous gift from Mr and Mrs J. Magnier, Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Ireland

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Conrad MB, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, George JM, Martinez RE, Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Colbath AC, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Welsh TH Jr, Bradbery AN. Effects of clodronate disodium on endocrine regulators of calcium in yearling horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf132pubmed: 40259552google scholar: lookup
  2. Tippen SP, Metzger CE, Sacks SA, Allen MR, Mitchell CF, McNulty MA. Clinically relevant doses of tiludronate do not affect bone remodelling in pasture-exercised horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):513-521.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14119pubmed: 38924597google scholar: lookup
  3. Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Popovich JM Jr, Panek CL, Logan AA, Robison CI, Ehrhardt RA, Johnson TN, Chargo NJ, Welsh TH Jr, Bradbery AN, Leatherwood JL, Colbath AC. Clodronate disodium does not produce measurable effects on bone metabolism in an exercising, juvenile, large animal model. PLoS One 2024;19(4):e0300360.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300360pubmed: 38626145google scholar: lookup
  4. Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Colbath AC. Is the Use of Bisphosphonates Putting Horses at Risk? An Osteoclast Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 3;12(13).
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