Biomechanical and molecular characteristics of hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia in Quarter Horses.
Abstract: Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is an autosomal recessive skin disorder that has yet to be fully characterized. HERDA is predominately expressed in Quarter Horses, with the majority of these disseminating from elite cutting horse bloodlines, leading to the increased incidence of HERDA in recent years. Affected horses have loose, hyper-extensible, fragile skin and are frequently euthanized due to poor wound healing and disfiguring scars. This study sought to better characterize HERDA by analysis of the biomechanical parameters of tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, energy to failure and thickness of skin from 10 affected and 6 unaffected horses using an Instron Universal Testing Instrument. In addition, total soluble collagen and glycosaminoglycan concentrations of skin were analysed from 13 affected and 12 unaffected horses using Sircol Soluble Collagen and Blyscan Sulfated Glycosaminoglycan assays respectively. Affected horses exhibited a two to threefold reduction in tensile strength versus unaffected horses with statistically significant differences at six of seven sample locations (P < or = 0.05). The modulus of elasticity proved to be significantly different at six of seven sample locations, energy to failure at six of seven sample locations, and skin thickness at one of seven sample locations (P < or = 0.05). Affected horses exhibited significantly higher amounts of total soluble collagen than unaffected horses (P < or = 0.05). No significant difference was demonstrated between groups for glycosaminoglycan concentration. Affected horses demonstrated uniformly weaker skin across sample locations, indicating the biomechanical properties of HERDA are not regionally confined to specific areas of the horses' skin.
Publication Date: 2010-02-25 PubMed ID: 20178499DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00830.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
Summary
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This research explores the biomechanical and molecular characteristics of Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), a hereditary skin disorder mostly found in Quarter Horses. The study demonstrates that affected horses have significantly weaker skin and more soluble collagen, contributing to the poor wound healing and fragility associated with the disorder.
Biomechanical Assessment of HERDA
The researchers used an Instron Universal Testing Instrument to measure the biomechanical properties of horse skin. These included tensile strength (the ability to withstand tension before breaking), modulus of elasticity (the degree of stiffness or deformation in response to stress), energy to failure (the total amount of energy absorbed by a material before it fails), and skin thickness.
- The skin samples were taken from 10 HERDA-affected horses and 6 unaffected horses.
- The findings revealed a significant reduction in tensile strength in affected horses, indicating weaker skin that is more prone to damage and tears.
- Significant differences were also found in terms of modulus of elasticity and energy to failure across different skin sample locations, suggesting a widespread weakness in the skin of affected horses.
- However, although there was a variation in skin thickness among sample locations, only one location showed a significant difference.
Molecular Analysis of HERDA
The research also investigated the molecular components of horse skin, focusing on total soluble collagen and glycosaminoglycan concentrations.
- Collagen acts as an essential component in maintaining skin strength and elasticity. Glycosaminoglycans contribute to skin hydration and resistance.
- For this aspect of the study, skin samples were collected from 13 affected and 12 unaffected horses.
- The results showed that affected horses had significantly higher amounts of total soluble collagen than unaffected horses, which may contribute to the hyper-extensibility and fragility characteristics of HERDA skin.
- No significant difference was identified in glycosaminoglycan concentration between the two groups.
Implications of the Findings
- The findings provide a better characterization of HERDA, shedding light on the biomechanical weaknesses of the skin in affected horses. This could potentially guide the development of treatments or strategies for managing the disorder.
- The results also confirm that the biomechanical deficiencies in HERDA are not restricted to specific regions of the horses’ skin but are spread across different locations. This has implications for the diagnosis and care of affected horses, signaling the need for widespread skin protection measures.
Cite This Article
APA
Grady JG, Elder SH, Ryan PL, Swiderski CE, Rashmir-Raven AM.
(2010).
Biomechanical and molecular characteristics of hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia in Quarter Horses.
Vet Dermatol, 20(5-6), 591-599.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2009.00830.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / genetics
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Skin / pathology
- Tensile Strength
Grant Funding
- RR070710 / NCRR NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Roberts JH, Halper J. Connective Tissue Disorders in Domestic Animals. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021;1348:325-335.
- Reiter S, Wallner B, Brem G, Haring E, Hoelzle L, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Długosz B, Piórkowska K, Ropka-Molik K, Malvick J, Penedo MCT, Bellone RR. Distribution of the Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome Type 1 Mutation (PLOD1 c.2032G>A) in Different Horse Breeds from Europe and the United States. Genes (Basel) 2020 Dec 18;11(12).
- Monthoux C, de Brot S, Jackson M, Bleul U, Walter J. Skin malformations in a neonatal foal tested homozygous positive for Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jan 31;11:12.
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