Comparison of the blood supply to the articular-epiphyseal growth complex in horse vs. pony foals.
Abstract: To increase understanding of why the prevalence of clinical/radiographic osteochondrosis (OC) dissecans is high in horses and low in ponies. Objective: To investigate whether the clinical difference in OC occurrence between horses and ponies could partly be explained by a difference in: 1) number of patent vessels in the epiphyseal growth cartilage; 2) duration of the presence of patent cartilage canals; or 3) growth cartilage thickness at predilection sites for OC. The hypothesis was that pony foals would have fewer cartilage canals, shorter duration of blood supply and thinner growth cartilage than horse foals. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study. Methods: Nine Standardbred foals (horse group) 1-49 days old and 11 Norwegian Fjord foals (pony group) 1-62 days old were included. A total of 15 anatomical locations in the tarsocrural and metatarsophalangeal joints were examined by one or more of the following techniques: arterial perfusion; photography of cleared specimens; microcomputed tomography; radiography; and histology. The number of cartilage canals was counted. Cartilage thickness was measured. Duration of blood supply was assessed in histological sections. Results: Of the 3 common predilection sites for OC investigated, there were significantly fewer vessels (P = 0.003) and thinner cartilage (P = 0.002) at the distal lateral trochlear ridge of the talus in the pony group. There was no difference in the duration of presence of cartilage canals between the groups. Conclusions: The hypothesis that pony foals would have fewer cartilage canals and thinner growth cartilage than horse foals was confirmed for the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus. The current results may contribute towards an explanation for the low prevalence of OC at the distal lateral trochlear ridge of the talus in pony foals.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-05-29 PubMed ID: 24750226DOI: 10.1111/evj.12278Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates why osteochondrosis (OC) dissecans occurs more frequently in horses than in ponies. By comparing the blood supply into the growth cartilage in foals of both species, the study confirms that pony foals have fewer blood vessels and thinner growth cartilage in certain areas, potentially explaining the lower prevalence of OC in ponies.
Introduction and Objective
- The main aim of this research is to enhance understanding as to why the occurrence of osteochondrosis (OC)—an orthopedic disease affecting the joints—is higher in horses than in ponies.
- The researchers hypothesize that the lower incidence of OC in ponies might be attributable to a decrease in the number of vessels supplying blood to the cartilage in the growth areas of the bones, a shorter duration of this blood supply, or a thinner layer of cartilage at the regions prone to OC.
Methods
- The study is observational and cross-sectional, involving nine Standardbred foals (representing horses) and 11 Norwegian Fjord foals (representing ponies).
- A comprehensive examination of 15 anatomical locations in the tarsocrural and metatarsophalangeal joints was done, using a combination of techniques like arteriography, photography of cleared specimens, micro-CT scans, radiography, and histology.
- Measurements were taken of the cartilage thickness and the number of cartilage canals, which allow blood vessels to reach the cartilage. Histological sections were used to determine the duration of the blood supply.
Results
- The study revealed that at three common sites where OC usually develops, ponies had significantly fewer blood vessels and thinner cartilage at the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus—a bone in the ankle joint—in comparison with horses.
- However, there was no noticeable difference between the two groups regarding the duration of the presence of cartilage canals.
Conclusions
- The results confirmed the initial hypothesis that pony foals would have fewer cartilage canals and thinner growth cartilage at the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus when compared to horse foals.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of the lower prevalence of OC at this particular site among ponies, and it opens avenues for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Hendrickson EH, Olstad K, Nødtvedt A, Pauwels E, van Hoorebeke L, Dolvik NI.
(2014).
Comparison of the blood supply to the articular-epiphyseal growth complex in horse vs. pony foals.
Equine Vet J, 47(3), 326-332.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12278 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Body Size / physiology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Growth Plate / blood supply
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Tarsus, Animal / blood supply
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Van Cauter R, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Caudron I. Evaluation of the appearance of osteochondrosis lesions by two radiographic examinations in sport horses aged from 12 to 36 months.. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286213.
- Olstad K, Gangsei LE, Kongsro J. A method for labelling lesions for machine learning and some new observations on osteochondrosis in computed tomographic scans of four pig joints.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Aug 31;18(1):328.
- van Grevenhof EM, Gezelle Meerburg ARD, van Dierendonck MC, van den Belt AJM, van Schaik B, Meeus P, Back W. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms: could there be a link?. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 9;13(1):324.
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