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Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society2007; 25(8); 1094-1105; doi: 10.1002/jor.20375

Early lesions of osteochondrosis in the distal tibia of foals.

Abstract: Material available for research into osteochondrosis (OC) in humans tends to represent chronic lesions. Comparative studies of early lesions in young animals are, therefore, important in clarifying the pathogenesis of OC in humans. Recent studies in pigs provide strong evidence that lesions of articular OC are associated with a focal failure in the cartilage canal vascular supply to epiphyseal growth cartilage (articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex excluding the articular cartilage). The purpose of the present study was to examine histological sections from a specific predilection site for articular OC in the distal tibia of a large number of young foals to determine if the same is true in horses. Material from the distal tibiae of 100 foals aged from 191 days of gestation to 153 days old was collected from routine submissions of fetuses and foals for post mortem examination. The tibiae were band-sawed into slabs, and selected slabs were processed for histology, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined using light microscopy. Early subclinical developmental stages of OC were found in the most common site for clinical OC lesions of horses in nine of 100 foals aged 12 to 122 days old. All lesions contained areas of chondrocyte necrosis that were associated with cartilage canal necrosis in five of nine foals. Five of these foals also had focal disruption of enchondral ossification at the chondro-osseous junction in the same site. Early lesions purported to play a role in the initial stages of articular OC in the distal tibia of horses were characterized by chondrocyte necrosis and likely occurred secondary to a failure of cartilage canal vascular supply to epiphyseal growth cartilage. The similarities in appearance between early lesions of piglets and foals suggest that information gained in one species may be transferable to others, including humans.
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Publication Date: 2007-04-07 PubMed ID: 17415757DOI: 10.1002/jor.20375Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study
  • 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 investigates early stages of osteochondrosis (a joint condition) in young horses to enhance understanding of its pathogenesis in humans. These findings were obtained by analyzing histological sections from lesions in the distal tibia of young foals.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aimed at examining the early lesions of osteochondrosis (OC) in the distal tibia of young foals. This comparison provides significant contributions to understanding the pathogenesis of human OC, which typically presents with chronic lesions that do not fully illustrate the disease’s progression.

Methods

  • The team collected material from the distal tibiae of 100 foals, ranging from 191 days gestation to 153 days old, coming from routine post-mortem examinations.
  • The collected tibiae were cut into slabs. Selected ones were processed for histology, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined under a light microscope.

Findings

  • In nine out of 100 foals, the team discovered early non-symptomatic developmental stages of OC in the most common site for clinical OC lesions of horses.
  • Areas of chondrocyte necrosis (the death of cells that synthesize cartilage) were present inside all lesions. In five out of nine foals, this necrosis was associated with cartilage canal necrosis, implying a failure of the vascular supply to growing cartilage.
  • The disruption of enchondral ossification at the same site was observed in five foals, indicating a halt in the transformation of cartilage to bone, which typically happens during normal bone growth.

Implications for Human Osteochondrosis

  • These early lesions in horses were characterized primarily by chondrocyte necrosis, an occurrence believed to result from a failure in the cartilage canal vascular supply to the epiphyseal growth cartilage.
  • The similarities between the findings from this horse study and prior pig studies suggest that insights from one species may be applicable to others, including humans. Thus, this research can provide valuable insight into the early development and pathogenesis of human OC.

Cite This Article

APA
Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. (2007). Early lesions of osteochondrosis in the distal tibia of foals. J Orthop Res, 25(8), 1094-1105. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.20375

Publication

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
ISSN: 0736-0266
NlmUniqueID: 8404726
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 8
Pages: 1094-1105

Researcher Affiliations

Olstad, Kristin
  • The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Section for Equine Medicine and Surgery, Post-box 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway. kristin.olstad@veths.no
Ytrehus, Bjørnar
    Ekman, Stina
      Carlson, Cathy S
        Dolvik, Nils I

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Cartilage, Articular / anatomy & histology
          • Cartilage, Articular / embryology
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Osteochondritis / pathology
          • Osteochondritis / veterinary
          • Osteochondritis Dissecans / pathology
          • Osteochondritis Dissecans / veterinary
          • Tibia / pathology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 22 times.
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