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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(6); 1667-1675; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13618

Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Tocopherol and Selenium Concentrations in Neonatal Foals with Neuroaxonal Dystrophy.

Abstract: Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting genetically predisposed foals maintained on α-tocopherol (α-TP)-deficient diet. Objective: Intramuscular α-TP and selenium (Se) administration at 4 days of age would have no significant effect on serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α-TP in healthy foals. Serum and CSF α-TP, but not Se, would be significantly decreased in NAD/EDM-affected foals during first year of life. Methods: Fourteen Quarter horse foals; 10 healthy foals supplemented with 0.02 mL/kg injectable α-TP and Se (n = 5) or saline (n = 5) at 4 days of age and 4 unsupplemented NAD/EDM-affected foals. Methods: Complete neurologic examinations were performed, blood and CSF were collected before (4 days of age) and after supplementation at 10, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 360 days of age. Additional blood collections occurred at 90, 150, 210, and 300 days. At 540 days, NAD/EDM-affected foals and 1 unsupplemented healthy foal were euthanized and necropsies performed. Results: Significant decreases in blood, CSF α-TP and Se found in the first year of life in all foals, with most significant changes in serum α-TP from 4-150 days. Dam α-TP and Se significantly influenced blood concentrations in foals. Injection of α-TP and Se did not significantly increase CSF Se, blood or CSF α-TP in healthy foals. NAD/EDM-affected foals had significantly lower CSF α-TP through 120 days. Conclusions: Injection of α-TP and Se at 4 days of age does not significantly increase blood or CSF α-TP. Despite all 14 foals remaining deficient in α-TP, only the 4 genetically predisposed foals developed NAD/EDM.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-09-22 PubMed ID: 26391904PubMed Central: PMC4831564DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13618Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study investigated the impact of α-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) and selenium supplements on foals affected by neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM), a neurodegenerative disorder. The researchers found sufficient evidence to suggest that administering these supplements at four days old did not significantly affect the levels of these nutrients in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Interestingly, despite all foals being deficient in α-tocopherol, only the genetically predisposed foals developed NAD/EDM.

Objectives and Methods of the Study

  • The central aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of intramuscular α-tocopherol and selenium administration on the levels of these substances in foal serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  • The researchers studied 14 Quarter horse foals, 10 of which were healthy and received either a supplement of α-tocopherol and selenium or a saline solution at 4 days of age. The remaining 4 foals were unsupplemented and affected by NAD/EDM.
  • The study involved comprehensive neurological examinations and the collection of blood and CSF both prior to supplementation and at various time points throughout the first year of life. The researchers also performed necropsies on the foals affected by NAD/EDM and one healthy foal at 540 days of age.

Key Findings

  • In all foals, significant decreases in blood, CSF α-tocopherol and selenium occurred over the first year. The most striking changes were seen in serum α-tocopherol levels between 4-150 days.
  • The initial levels of α-tocopherol and selenium in the mother significantly impacted blood levels in the foals.
  • Administration of α-tocopherol and selenium did not significantly increase CSF selenium or blood/CSF α-tocopherol in healthy foals. NAD/EDM-affected foals experienced significantly lower CSF α-tocopherol levels up until 120 days of age.
  • Despite all foals displaying α-tocopherol deficiency, only those genetically predisposed to NAD/EDM developed the condition.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Based on the findings, administering α-tocopherol and selenium at 4 days of age does not significantly impact blood or CSF levels of these nutrients.
  • Even though all foals remained deficient in α-tocopherol, only genetically predisposed foals developed NAD/EDM, implying that genetic predisposition plays a crucial role in the development of this disorder.
  • This study’s results suggest that supplementation with these nutrients may not be an effective strategy for preventing or treating NAD/EDM in foals. Further research is needed to determine other potential factors and treatment strategies for this neurodegenerative disorder.

Cite This Article

APA
Finno CJ, Estell KE, Katzman S, Winfield L, Rendahl A, Textor J, Bannasch DL, Puschner B. (2015). Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Tocopherol and Selenium Concentrations in Neonatal Foals with Neuroaxonal Dystrophy. J Vet Intern Med, 29(6), 1667-1675. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13618

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 6
Pages: 1667-1675

Researcher Affiliations

Finno, C J
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Estell, K E
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Katzman, S
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Winfield, L
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Rendahl, A
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
  • School of Statistics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Textor, J
  • Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Bannasch, D L
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Puschner, B
  • Molecular Biosciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Horse Diseases / genetics
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / blood
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / genetics
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / prevention & control
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / veterinary
  • Selenium / administration & dosage
  • Selenium / blood
  • Selenium / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Selenium / pharmacology
  • alpha-Tocopherol / administration & dosage
  • alpha-Tocopherol / blood
  • alpha-Tocopherol / cerebrospinal fluid
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology

Grant Funding

  • L40 TR001136 / NCATS NIH HHS
  • K01OD015134-01A1 / NIH HHS
  • T32 DC008072 / NIDCD NIH HHS
  • 5 T32 DC 8072-3 / NIDCD NIH HHS
  • K01 OD015134 / NIH HHS

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This article has been cited 18 times.
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