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Effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II on the growth of equine fetal and neonatal chondrocytes.
Abstract: The effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II on fetal and foal chondrocytes were investigated in vitro. Chondrocytes from the lateral trochlear ridge of the distal femur were obtained from 2 fetuses (280 and 320 days gestation) and one 4-day-old foal and cultured. Membrane proteins consistent with type 1 and type 2 IGF receptors were demonstrated by radioligand cross linking and equilibrium binding analysis. It was demonstrated that both IGF-I and IGF-II acted as mitogens for isolated equine chondrocytes when present as the sole mitogenic factor in monolayer culture. It was further shown that whereas insulin was able to promote the survival and expansion of cell populations of chondrocytes in culture there was significantly reduced mitogenic stimulation compared to the IGFs. These results suggest that the role of insulin in growth cartilage may be to promote chondrocyte survival, or to suppress differentiation/apoptosis. This supports the hypothesis that relative hyperinsulinaemia may be a contributory factor to equine dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis). Understanding of contributory, and possibly triggering factors such as this may allow the development of modified methods of husbandry which minimise the risk of disease in populations with a known predisposition.
Publication Date: 1997-12-31 PubMed ID: 9413716DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03156.xGoogle 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.
- 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.
The research examines how insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) affect the growth of fetal and newborn horse cells in a laboratory setting. The data suggests that these elements could play important roles in cell survival and growth, and increased understanding of these roles could contribute to improved methods of animal care.
Study Methodology and Results
The researchers started by extracting specific cells, known as chondrocytes, from the femur joint of two horse fetuses and one newborn horse. These cells were then cultured in laboratory conditions. The team used techniques called radioligand cross linking and equilibrium binding analysis to identify the presence of two specific proteins, known as type 1 and type 2 IGF receptors, in these cells.
- IGF-I and IGF-II, when present as the only growth-inducing factors, stimulated the growth of these cells.
- Insulin, on the other hand, was shown to support the survival and growth of these cell populations, but it was less effective in stimulating growth compared to the IGFs.
Interpreting the Findings
These findings led the researchers to propose that insulin might have a role in sustaining the life of chondrocytes, or even in suppressing their transformation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). This led them to hypothesize that relatively high insulin levels could be linked with a horse bone disorder known as dyschondroplasia, or osteochondrosis.
Implications and Potential Benefits
Knowing how insulin and IGFs influence chondrocytes could help in understanding the factors leading to equine dyschondroplasia. This could be important because the disease causes joint problems in horses, and there’s a need to find new ways to prevent and treat it.
- Understanding these factors could contribute to the development of new methods of animal husbandry that reduce the risk of the disease, especially in populations that are known to be predisposed to it.
Cite This Article
APA
Henson FM, Davenport C, Butler L, Moran I, Shingleton WD, Jeffcott LB, Schofield PN.
(1997).
Effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II on the growth of equine fetal and neonatal chondrocytes.
Equine Vet J, 29(6), 441-447.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03156.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / growth & development
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Apoptosis / drug effects
- Apoptosis / physiology
- Cartilage, Articular / cytology
- Cartilage, Articular / embryology
- Cartilage, Articular / growth & development
- Causality
- Cell Cycle
- Cell Differentiation / drug effects
- Cell Differentiation / physiology
- Cell Division / drug effects
- Cell Division / physiology
- Cell Membrane / chemistry
- Cells, Cultured
- DNA / biosynthesis
- Female
- Femur / cytology
- Femur / embryology
- Femur / growth & development
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Insulin / pharmacology
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / pharmacology
- Osteochondrodysplasias / epidemiology
- Osteochondrodysplasias / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Receptors, Somatomedin / analysis
- Risk Factors
- Thymidine / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Hallman I, Karikoski N, Kareskoski M. The effects of obesity and insulin dysregulation on mare reproduction, pregnancy, and foal health: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1180622.
- Fradinho MJ, Mateus L, Bernardes N, Bessa RJB, Caldeira RM, Ferreira-Dias G. Growth patterns, metabolic indicators and osteoarticular status in the Lusitano horse: A longitudinal study. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0219900.
- Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubrière MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguié C, Wimel L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Serteyn D, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0190309.
- Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK. Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete. Animals (Basel) 2012 Dec 19;2(4):640-55.
- Peugnet P, Robles M, Mendoza L, Wimel L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Guillaume D, Camous S, Berthelot V, Toquet MP, Richard E, Sandersen C, Chaffaux S, Lejeune JP, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122596.
- Verwilghen DR, Vanderheyden L, Franck T, Busoni V, Enzerink E, Gangl M, Lejeune JP, van Galen G, Grulke S, Serteyn D. Variations of plasmatic concentrations of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in post-pubescent horses affected with developmental osteochondral lesions. Vet Res Commun 2009 Oct;33(7):701-9.
- Lewczuk D, Wypchło M, Hecold M, Buczkowska R, Korwin-Kossakowska A. Connections Between Gene Polymorphism and Fetlock and Hock Measurements in Polish Sport Horses. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Oct 2;26(19).
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