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American journal of veterinary research2009; 70(8); 992-1000; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.70.8.992

Effect of firocoxib or flunixin meglumine on recovery of ischemic-injured equine jejunum.

Abstract: To determine whether treatment of horses with firocoxib affects recovery of ischemic-injured jejunum, while providing effective analgesia. Methods: 18 horses. Methods: Horses (n = 6 horses/group) received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (1 mL/50 kg, IV), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h), or firocoxib (0.09 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h) before 2 hours of jejunal ischemia. Horses were monitored via pain scores and received butorphanol for analgesia. After 18 hours, ischemic-injured and control mucosa were placed in Ussing chambers for measurement of transepithelial resistance and permeability to lipopolysaccharide. Histomorphometry was used to determine denuded villus surface area. Western blots for cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 were performed. Plasma thromboxane B(2) and prostaglandin E(2) metabolite (PGEM) concentrations were determined. Results: Pain scores did not significantly increase after surgery in horses receiving flunixin meglumine or firocoxib. Transepithelial resistance of ischemic-injured jejunum from horses treated with flunixin meglumine was significantly lower than in saline- or firocoxib-treated horses. Lipopolysaccharide permeability across ischemic-injured mucosa was significantly increased in horses treated with flunixin meglumine. Treatment did not affect epithelial restitution. Cyclooxygenase-1 was constitutively expressed and COX-2 was upregulated after 2 hours of ischemia. Thromboxane B(2) concentration decreased with flunixin meglumine treatment but increased with firocoxib or saline treatment. Flunixin meglumine and firocoxib prevented an increase in PGEM concentration after surgery. Conclusions: Flunixin meglumine retarded mucosal recovery in ischemic-injured jejunum, whereas firocoxib did not. Flunixin meglumine and firocoxib were effective visceral analgesics. Firocoxib may be advantageous in horses recovering from ischemic intestinal injury.
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Publication Date: 2009-08-04 PubMed ID: 19645580DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.70.8.992Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • 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.

This research paper explores how administering the drugs firocoxib and flunixin meglumine affects the recovery of a horse’s small intestine (jejunum) after it experiences oxygen deprivation (ischemic injury). Compared to flunixin meglumine, firocoxib was found to not hinder tissue healing and was efficacious as an analgesic, suggesting its usefulness in treating equine ischemic intestinal injuries.

Methodology and Procedures

  • The experiment involved 18 horses divided evenly into three groups. Each group received either saline solution, flunixin meglumine, or firocoxib before being subject to two hours of jejunal ischemia, a condition where the jejunum tissue is deprived of oxygen.
  • The horses’ pain levels were tracked using pain scores, while the opioid drug butorphanol was administered for pain relief.
  • Upon 18 hours, intestinal tissues, both injured and healthy, were evaluated in Ussing chambers to measure electrical resistance across the tissues and their permeability to lipopolysaccharide, a molecule which could imply bacterial infection.
  • Surface area of the damaged villus (small, finger-like projections inside the intestine) was assessed using histomorphometry, a procedure that quantitatively analyzes microscopic structure.
  • The researchers conducted Western Blot analyses, a method to detect specific proteins, for Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
  • Levels of thromboxane B(2) and prostaglandin E(2) metabolite (PGEM) – substances related to inflammation and blood flow regulation – were determined in the blood.

Key Findings

  • Post-surgery pain scores did not noticeably differ in horses treated with flunixin meglumine or firocoxib.
  • Remarkably, the electrical resistance of the oxygen-deprived jejunum was significantly lower in horses treated with flunixin meglumine compared to others. This could suggest poorer tissue integrity in these animals.
  • Likewise, lipopolysaccharide permeability was significantly increased in the flunixin meglumine group, implying increased vulnerability to bacterial infections.
  • Treatment did not affect epithelial restitution, or repair of the intestinal lining.
  • COX-1 protein was always detected and COX-2 protein expression increased after the jejunum suffered ischemia.
  • Notably, thromboxane B(2) levels dropped with flunixin meglumine treatment but rose in horses receiving firocoxib or saline. Both flunixin meglumine and firocoxib prevented an increase in PGEM levels after surgery.

Conclusions

  • Overall, these observations show that treatment with flunixin meglumine hampered the mucosal recovery of oxygen-deprived jejunum, whereas firocoxib did not. This suggests that firocoxib might be the preferable drug in horses recovering from ischemic intestinal injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Cook VL, Meyer CT, Campbell NB, Blikslager AT. (2009). Effect of firocoxib or flunixin meglumine on recovery of ischemic-injured equine jejunum. Am J Vet Res, 70(8), 992-1000. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.70.8.992

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 70
Issue: 8
Pages: 992-1000

Researcher Affiliations

Cook, Vanessa L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
Meyer, Colleen T
    Campbell, Nigel B
      Blikslager, Anthony T

        MeSH Terms

        • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives
        • 4-Butyrolactone / therapeutic use
        • Analysis of Variance
        • Animals
        • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
        • Blotting, Western / veterinary
        • Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
        • Clonixin / therapeutic use
        • Cyclooxygenase 1 / metabolism
        • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
        • Eicosanoids / blood
        • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
        • Horses
        • Ischemia / drug therapy
        • Ischemia / veterinary
        • Jejunal Diseases / drug therapy
        • Jejunal Diseases / veterinary
        • Sulfones / therapeutic use
        • Thromboxane B2 / blood

        Citations

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