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Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(1); 134-142; doi: 10.1111/evj.13256

Development of the blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle of foals.

Abstract: Growth cartilage is found in the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex (AECC) and the physis. It has a temporary blood supply organised as end arteries. Vascular failure is associated with osteochondrosis, but infection can also obstruct vessels. The location of bacteria was recently compared to arterial perfusion, and the results indicated that they were located in the distal tips of AECC end arteries. Systematic perfusion studies were not available for comparison to the infected physes. Further studies may improve our understanding of infections and other pathologies. Objective: To describe development of the blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle in fetuses and foals from 228 days of gestation to 62 days old. Methods: Ex vivo arterial perfusion study. Methods: The left medial femoral condyle of 10 Norwegian Fjord Pony fetuses and foals (228 days of gestation to 62 days old) and one Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter foal (10 days old) was arterially perfused with barium and underwent micro-computed tomography, qualitative and quantitative description of vessels. Results: In the fetus, the physis was supplied by metaphyseal-origin arteries. In 1-10 day-old foals, the physis was supplied by a mixture of metaphyseal- and epiphyseal-origin arteries, and from 15 days of age by epiphyseal-origin arteries only. The number of vessels increased before it decreased in both the AECC and the physis postnatally. Vessels in the cartilage showed a monopodial branching pattern, whereas vessels in epiphyseal and metaphyseal bone showed both monopodial and dichotomous branching. Conclusions: Foals with confirmed pathologies were not examined. Conclusions: The blood supply to growth cartilage changed with age, including the physeal supply that changed from metaphyseal- to epiphyseal-origin arteries. The number of vessels increased before it decreased postnatally, and two different branching patterns were observed. These results may improve our understanding of growth cartilage vascular failure and osteomyelitis.
© The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-04-01 PubMed ID: 32144821DOI: 10.1111/evj.13256Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research article investigates the development of blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle from gestation to 62 days old in foals, aiming to deepen the understanding of conditions like vascular failure and osteomyelitis.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • The objective of the study was to outline how the blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle in fetuses and foals from 228 days of gestation to 62 days old develops.
  • The method used is an ex vivo arterial perfusion study. This involves outside-the-body examination of the arterial system via micro-computed tomography, alongside a qualitative and quantitative description of the vessels.
  • The subjects of the study were the left medial femoral condyle of 10 Norwegian Fjord Pony fetuses and foals (from 228 days of gestation to 62 days old) and one Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter foal (10 days old).
  • The researchers used arterial perfusion with barium, a substance that is visible on X-rays, to trace the development and behavior of the blood vessels supplying the growth cartilage.

Key Results

  • The research found that in fetuses, the physis, or growth plate, was supplied by metaphyseal-origin arteries.
  • In the early days of foals (1 to 10 days old), the blood supply came from a mix of metaphyseal- and epiphyseal-origin arteries.
  • From 15 days of age onward, the physis was supplied only by epiphyseal-origin arteries.
  • They also found that the number of vessels increased before it decreased in both the AECC and the physis after birth.
  • Vessels in the cartilage showed a monopodial branching pattern, whereas vessels in epiphyseal and metaphyseal bone showed both monopodial and dichotomous branching.

Conclusions

  • The study didn’t examine foals with confirmed pathologies, so the findings are based on normal development patterns.
  • The blood supply to growth cartilage showed significant changes with age, particularly the shifting of the physeal supply from metaphyseal- to epiphyseal-origin arteries.
  • The study also noted an increase, followed by a decrease, in the number of vessels post-birth and identified two different branching patterns for the blood vessels.
  • The findings could potentially improve understanding of growth cartilage vascular issues and osteomyelitis, a bone infection which often starts in the blood vessels.

Cite This Article

APA
Wormstrand BH, Fjordbakk CT, Griffiths DJ, Lykkjen S, Olstad K. (2020). Development of the blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle of foals. Equine Vet J, 53(1), 134-142. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13256

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 1
Pages: 134-142

Researcher Affiliations

Wormstrand, Bjørn H
  • Department of Companion Animal Sciences, Equine Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Fjordbakk, Cathrine T
  • Department of Companion Animal Sciences, Equine Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Griffiths, David J
  • Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Lykkjen, Sigrid
  • Department of Companion Animal Sciences, Equine Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Olstad, Kristin
  • Department of Companion Animal Sciences, Equine Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage
  • Epiphyses
  • Femur
  • Growth Plate
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Grant Funding

  • H144705/NFR248340 / Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research/Research Council of Norway

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Brittberg M. Knee osteochondritis dissecans-treatment technical aspects. J Orthop 2022 Nov-Dec;34:104-110.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2022.08.005pubmed: 36060730google scholar: lookup
  2. Olstad K. Science-in-brief: Recent advances in failure of the blood supply to growth cartilage, osteochondrosis and developmental orthopaedic disease. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1161-1166.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14486pubmed: 39924168google scholar: lookup
  3. Tóth F, Nissi MJ, Armstrong AR, Buko EO, Johnson CP. Epiphyseal cartilage vascular architecture at the distal humeral osteochondritis dissecans predilection site in juvenile pigs. J Orthop Res 2024 Apr;42(4):737-744.
    doi: 10.1002/jor.25732pubmed: 37971288google scholar: lookup
  4. Kolasinac SS, Griffiths D, Moe L, Sørum H, Rootwelt V. Ductal Architecture: Corrosion Casting of Canine Mammary Glands Using an Intraductal Approach. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 15;13(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13182932pubmed: 37760331google scholar: lookup
  5. Olstad K, Ekman S, Björnsdóttir S, Fjordbakk CT, Hansson K, Sigurdsson SF, Ley CJ. Osteochondrosis in the central and third tarsal bones of young horses. Vet Pathol 2024 Jan;61(1):74-87.
    doi: 10.1177/03009858231185108pubmed: 37431760google scholar: lookup
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