Effect of prolonged water immersion on equine hoof epidermis in vitro.

The research investigates the effect of extended water immersion on the tissues of horse hooves. The study found that prolonged water exposure caused an increase in mass of some hoof structures, the loss of certain solutes, but no loss of proteins.

Methodology

• The study was conducted on 10 horses with no previous foot abnormalities.
• Horse’s hoof wall tissue specimens were selected for the experiment.
• These specimens were immersed in distilled deionized water for a 10-day stretch.
• The mass of the specimens was recorded at regular intervals during the immersion period.
• Afterwards, the concentration of various small particles (solute) in the immersion solution, including Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl-), and protein were measured.

Results

• The fully cornified outer hoof wall, sole, and frog epidermal structures demonstrated an increase in mass when immersed in water.
• In contrast, the Stratum Medium Zona Alba (SMZA) layer presented a loss in mass.
• All hoof structures showed variable loss of crystalloids (solutes) during immersion.
• No specimens displayed loss of proteins.
• For the frog epidermis, the total solute lost during immersion could not be linked to Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride.

Conclusions

• The data supports a two-compartment model for the fully cornified outer stratum medium, frog, and sole – where exchange of crystalloids is possible, but not proteins, through the cell membrane.
• This implies that topical treatment regimes containing proteins would not interact or be absorbed directly by the hoof structure.
• The unique behavior of the SMZA in contrast to other hoof structures suggests that it could be composed of transitional epithelial cells.
• The solutes lost from frog epithelium likely represent its unique lipid composition.