Detection of apoptotic cells in intestines from horses with and without gastrointestinal tract disease.

The research article is about a study identifying the presence of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in horse intestines and whether this is associated with gastrointestinal tract diseases. The study also explored if the cell death occurred in a specific layer of the intestine.

Methods

• The study involved 38 horses that were either put down because of problems with their small or large intestine, like obstruction, strangulation, or distension, or underwent surgery for these issues. 9 others were used as a control group as they were euthanatized for reasons other than gastrointestinal diseases or systemic diseases.
• Tissues were collected from several sites on the intestine, both at and away from the primary lesion site, either during surgery or postmortem.
• These tissue samples were stained with H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) and apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling technique.
• The number of apoptotic cells per high power field (hpf) were counted in four layers of the intestine: the mucosa, circular muscle, longitudinal muscle, and serosa.

Results

• The results revealed the presence of apoptotic nuclei in all layers of the intestine.
• A higher number of apoptotic cells were found in the circular muscle of intestines from horses with simple, or non-strangulated, obstruction when compared to strangulated obstruction or healthy intestine.
• The intestines further from the primary strangulating lesion had a greater quantity of apoptotic cells than intestines distant from a simple obstructive lesion or intestines at the site of a strangulating or simple obstructive lesion.

Conclusion

• The researchers concluded that high numbers of apoptotic cells, possibly due to ischemic cell injury and ensuing inflammation, were found in the intestines of horses with obstructing or strangulating lesions in the small intestine or large colon.
• This study suggests there could be a correlation between gastrointestinal tract diseases and apoptosis, although it is unclear whether substantial apoptosis could affect the functioning of the intestine.