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Effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of colonic mucosa from ischemia in horses.
Abstract: To examine the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM) on recovery of colonic mucosa from experimentally induced ischemia in horses. Methods: 14 research horses. Methods: Ischemia was induced in the colons of anesthetized horses for 2 hours. Afterward, horses received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (12 mL, IV, q 12 h; n = 7) or FM (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h; 7) and were allowed to recover for 18 hours after termination of the ischemic event. Postoperative pain scores were recorded every 4 hours throughout the recovery period. At the end of the recovery period, horses were anesthetized, and ischemic and nonischemic segments of colonic mucosa were harvested for histologic evaluation, western blot analysis, and in vitro assessment of transepithelial electric resistance (TER) and transmucosal flux of tritium-labeled (3H-) mannitol. Horses were then euthanatized. Results: Flunixin meglumine significantly lowered pain scores at the first postoperative recording. There were no significant differences between treatment with saline solution and FM in any of the measurements for TER, 3H-mannitol flux, histomorphometric variables, neutrophil infiltration (detected via calprotectin immunostaining), and expressions of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2. After both treatments, TER declined significantly in nonischemic tissues in vitro, whereas it increased significantly in ischemic-injured tissues. Conclusions: Flunixin meglumine did not affect recovery of equine colonic mucosa from ischemic injury, and continued use in horses with colonic ischemia is therefore justified.
Publication Date: 2009-02-24 PubMed ID: 19231957DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.70.2.236Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research sought to understand how the use of flunixin meglumine (FM) impacts the recovery of colonic mucosa in horses after induced ischemic injury. It concluded that FM doesn’t affect the recovery of equine colonic mucosa from such injury hence its continued use in horses with colonic ischemia is justified.
Research Methodology
- The study involved 14 horses where ischemia (restricted blood supply) was experimentally induced in their colons while they were under anesthesia.
- After this, they were treated with either saline solution or FM and allowed to recover for 18 hours.
- Postoperative pain levels were noted every 4 hours during the recovery period.
- After the recovery period, both ischemic and nonischemic segments of the colonic mucosa were collected for further testing including checking for histologic evaluation, transepithelial electric resistance (TER), and transmucosal flux of tritium-labeled mannitol.
- Lastly, the horses were euthanized to fully analyze the results.
Research findings
- The use of flunixin meglumine significantly reduced pain scores immediately after surgery; however, there were no notable differences between the saline solution and FM in measurements related to TER, histomorphometric variables, neutrophil infiltration, and expressions of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2. This indicates that both treatments were similarly effective in these tests.
- TER, which measures the resistance of a material to electric current transversely (across the material) as opposed to along its length, declined significantly in nonischemic tissues and increased significantly in ischemic-injured tissues, regardless of the treatment applied.
Conclusion
While flunixin meglumine does contribute to lowering immediate postoperative pain, it does not provide any additional benefits or risks to the recovery of the equine colonic mucosa following ischemia. This confirms that its continued use in horses with colonic ischemia is justified.
Cite This Article
APA
Matyjaszek SA, Morton AJ, Freeman DE, Grosche A, Polyak MM, Kuck H.
(2009).
Effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of colonic mucosa from ischemia in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 70(2), 236-246.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.70.2.236 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Blotting, Western
- Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
- Clonixin / pharmacology
- Clonixin / therapeutic use
- Colon / blood supply
- Colon / drug effects
- Colon / pathology
- Cyclooxygenase 1 / metabolism
- Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
- Electric Impedance
- Heart Rate
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Intestinal Mucosa / blood supply
- Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
- Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
- Ischemia / drug therapy
- Ischemia / veterinary
- Pain Measurement / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Schank N, Cottone A, Wulf M, Seiter K, Thomas B, Miller LMJ, Anderson SL, Sahyoun A, Abidi AH, Kassan M, Verma A. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Colic and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 3;15(23).
- Delcambre GH, Liu J, Herrington JM, Vallario K, Long MT. Immunohistochemistry for the detection of neural and inflammatory cells in equine brain tissue. PeerJ 2016;4:e1601.
- Slone EA, Fleming SD. Membrane lipid interactions in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion-induced Injury. Clin Immunol 2014 Jul;153(1):228-40.
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