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American journal of veterinary research2006; 67(3); 433-447; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.67.3.433

Characterization of experimentally induced post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the medial femorotibial joint of horses.

Abstract: To study osteoarthritis in the equine medial femorotibial (MFT) joint after a single traumatic injury. Methods: 10 mature horses. Methods: In vitro explant cultures were used to determine injury threshold for stifle joint cartilage. Contusive impacts were applied to the medial femoral condyle (MFC), and horses were followed for 84 (n = 5) and 180 days (5). Synovial fluid samples were collected every 14 days for determination of sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) concentrations. Radiographic and lameness evaluations were performed. Gross and histologic descriptions, and immunohistochemistry, cartilage sGAG content determination, and cartilage aggregate modulus determination were performed at the MFC impact site (MFCi), MFC nonimpact site (MFCn), and medial tibial plateau (MTP). Results: Synovial fluid sGAG concentration decreased significantly on days 14, 28, 42, and 56 in all horses. Macroscopic and microscopic articular lesions developed within all MFT joints. No radiographic abnormalities were observed. Mild lameness was evident in several horses. No significant differences were found between short-term and longterm cohorts of horses with respect to histologic scores and TUNEL results. On immunohistochemistry, MFCi was positive for COL2-(3/4)C(short). International Cartilage Repair Society scores differed significantly between short-term and long-term cohorts of horses. In all horses, sGAG concentrations were significantly decreased at the MFCi, compared with the MFCn. Conclusions: Use of contusive impacts on the MFC of horses results in cartilage lesions that are similar to those described clinically, supporting trauma as a contributing factor in the natural pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
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Publication Date: 2006-03-02 PubMed ID: 16506905DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.3.433Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • 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.

The research is primarily focused on exploring osteoarthritis in horses’ medial femorotibial (MFT) joint after a trauma, specifically a contusive impact on the medial femoral condyle (MFC). The results indicate that such trauma contributes to the formation of cartilage lesions, a common feature in osteoarthritis.

Methodology

  • The researchers used in vitro explant cultures to determine the injury threshold for horses’ stifle joint cartilage.
  • Ten mature horses were involved in the study. They were subjected to contusive impacts to the medial femoral condyle and monitored for 84 or 180 days.
  • Synovial fluid samples were collected every fortnight to measure sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) concentrations, which are indicative of cartilage health.
  • Radiographic and lameness evaluations were performed to assess the physical and motor impacts of the experimental trauma.
  • Using gross and histologic descriptions, immunohistochemistry, and modulus determination, the researchers observed and measured the effects of the impact at various regions around the joint.

Results

  • In all horses, synovial fluid sGAG concentration decreased significantly after the trauma. This occurred at specific intervals – 14, 28, 42, and 56 days post-trauma.
  • Observable articular lesions, typical of osteoarthritis, developed in all MFT joints, but no radiographic abnormalities were observed.
  • Several horses exhibited mild lameness after the trauma.
  • No significant differences were noted in histologic scores and results from terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), a method that detects DNA fragmentation, between horses monitored for short-term and long-term periods.
  • Through immunohistochemistry, the trauma site (MFCi) tested positive for COL2-(3/4)C(short), a specific collagenase cleavage product.
  • Scored by the International Cartilage Repair Society, the short-term and long-term horse cohorts showed significantly different results.
  • In every horse, the sGAG concentration significantly decreased at the trauma site when compared with a nonimpact site.

Conclusion

The research concludes that experimental contusive impacts on horses’ MFC result in characteristics associated with osteoarthritis, specifically, a decrease in the sGAG concentration (implying cartilage health decline) and the development of articular lesions. These findings support the idea that trauma contributes to the natural pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Cite This Article

APA
Bolam CJ, Hurtig MB, Cruz A, McEwen BJ. (2006). Characterization of experimentally induced post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the medial femorotibial joint of horses. Am J Vet Res, 67(3), 433-447. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.3.433

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 67
Issue: 3
Pages: 433-447

Researcher Affiliations

Bolam, Courtney J
  • Ontario Veterinary College, Comparative Orthopaedic Research Group, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Hurtig, Mark B
    Cruz, Antonio
      McEwen, Beverly J E

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
        • Hindlimb
        • Horse Diseases / metabolism
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Joints / pathology
        • Osteoarthritis / metabolism
        • Osteoarthritis / pathology
        • Osteoarthritis / veterinary
        • Synovial Fluid / metabolism

        Citations

        This article has been cited 15 times.
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