Differences in second-intention wound healing between horses and ponies: histological aspects.
Abstract: The histological aspects of second-intention healing were studied in 5 horses and 5 ponies. Biopsies were taken weekly from standardised wounds on the metatarsus and femoral biceps muscle of one horse and one pony. Sections were stained to enable cell counting and the detection of DNA synthesis, fibrin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), collagen, and bacteria. In the ponies, the number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was high during the first 3 weeks and subsequently decreased rapidly. In the horses, the initial number of PMNs was lower, but remained persistently elevated during the evaluation period. PMNs were found mainly in the superficial zones. Significantly more fibrin was present in the wounds of the horses. No significant differences were observed in the number of fibroblasts, the amounts of SMA and collagen. However, myofibroblasts were significantly less regularly organised in the wounds of the horses, particularly in the metatarsal wounds. The mitotic activity of the epithelium was temporally reduced in week 3. The mitotic activity of the granulation tissue was initially high but declined rapidly from week 1 onwards, with the exception of the metatarsal wounds of the horses, in which mitotic activity remained significantly higher. Histology confirmed and explained the macroscopical differences in wound healing between horses and ponies by the strict organisation of the myofibroblasts and the more effective acute inflammation in the ponies. Stimulation of the organisation of myofibroblasts and improvement of the efficacy of the inflammatory response in horses may therefore result in better second-intention wound healing in horses in clinical practice.
Publication Date: 1999-02-10 PubMed ID: 9952331DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03792.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research examines the differences in how horses and ponies heal, focusing on a form of healing called ‘second-intention’ and using histological studies. They discovered different trends in the behavior of cells involved in healing, suggesting potential improvements in care for horses’ wounds.
Methodology and Measurements
- The histological elements of second-intention healing were surveyed in 5 horses and 5 ponies. This type of healing happens when a wound cannot be stitched together and has to heal from the bottom up.
- Weekly biopsies were taken from standardized wounds on assigned areas (the metatarsus and femoral biceps muscle) of a horse and pony. These samples allowed them to study the healing process over a period of time.
- These sections were stained to determine cell count, DNA synthesis, fibrin (a protein involved in blood clotting), smooth muscle actin (SMA, a protein in muscle cells), collagen, and bacteria.
Observations
- The initial observations showed that ponies had more polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs, a type of white blood cell) during the first 3 weeks which then quickly decreased. This was different in horses, where the initial number of PMNs was lower but remained elevated throughout the evaluation period.
- The PMNs were mainly found in the superficial zones of the wounds. This suggests that these cells play a significant role in the early stages of healing.
- There was more fibrin (a protein involved in blood clotting) present in the wounds of horses, indicating a more substantial clotting response to injury in horses over ponies.
- Despite these differences, there was no significant variation in the number of fibroblasts (collagen-producing cells), the amounts of SMA and collagen (both essential components for wound healing).
- However, in horses, myofibroblasts (cells crucial for wound contraction) were significantly less well organized in the wounds. This was particularly evident in the metatarsal wounds.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the differences seen in the macroscopic wound healing between horses and ponies could be attributed to the stricter organization of the myofibroblasts and the more effective acute inflammation response in ponies.
- Therefore, enhancing the organization of myofibroblasts and improving the efficacy of the inflammatory response in horses could potentially improve their second-intention wound healing process. This comprehension could be instrumental in providing better veterinary care for horses’ wounds.
Cite This Article
APA
Wilmink JM, van Weeren PR, Stolk PW, Van Mil FN, Barneveld A.
(1999).
Differences in second-intention wound healing between horses and ponies: histological aspects.
Equine Vet J, 31(1), 61-67.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03792.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Actins / analysis
- Animals
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Collagen / analysis
- Colony Count, Microbial / veterinary
- DNA / biosynthesis
- Fibrin / analysis
- Fibroblasts / pathology
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Leukocyte Count / veterinary
- Male
- Metatarsus / injuries
- Metatarsus / microbiology
- Metatarsus / pathology
- Metatarsus / physiology
- Mitosis
- Muscle, Skeletal / injuries
- Muscle, Skeletal / microbiology
- Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Neutrophils / pathology
- Wound Healing
- Wounds and Injuries / pathology
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 18 times.- Partusch L, Rutland CS, Martens A, Du Cheyne C, De Spiegelaere W, Michler JK. Collagen composition in equine exuberant granulation tissue reflects tissue immaturity. PLoS One 2025;20(11):e0335179.
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- Du Cheyne C, Martens A, De Spiegelaere W. High Numbers of CD163-Positive Macrophages in the Fibrotic Region of Exuberant Granulation Tissue in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 18;11(9).
- Wise LM, Stuart GS, Sriutaisuk K, Adams BR, Riley CB, Theoret CL. Anti-fibrotic Actions of Equine Interleukin-10 on Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1-Stimulated Dermal Fibroblasts Isolated From Limbs of Horses. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:577835.
- Wilmink JM, Ladefoged S, Jongbloets A, Vernooij JCM. The evaluation of the effect of probiotics on the healing of equine distal limb wounds. PLoS One 2020;15(7):e0236761.
- Lawless SP, Cohen ND, Lawhon SD, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, Wu J, Rivera-Vélez A, Weeks BR, Whitfield-Cargile CM. Effect of gallium maltolate on a model of chronic, infected equine distal limb wounds. PLoS One 2020;15(6):e0235006.
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