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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foa...
Equine veterinary journal2007; 40(1); 30-39; doi: 10.2746/042516407X239836

Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foals and relationship to osteochondrosis.

Abstract: Pathological changes in the blood supply to growth cartilage have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis (OC) in horses, but have not been reported using vascular perfusion techniques. Objective: To describe the developmental pattern of cartilage canal vessels in the distal tibial epiphysis and talar growth cartilage of foals. Methods: Nine foals bred from parents with OC were sacrificed between the ages of 0 and 7 weeks to undergo a barium perfusion procedure. The distal end of the tibia and the entire talus were cleared in methyl salicylate and perfused vessels studied in the intact bones. Slabs with a thickness of 4-5 mm from 3 predilection sites for OC were examined in the stereomicroscope and with light microscopy. Results: Cartilage canals were present for a limited period of growth. Perfused vessels initially entered canals from the perichondrium. Vessels in the proximal portion of canals retained their perichondrial arterial source throughout. With time, the ossification front advanced to incorporate the mid-portion of canals; and anastomoses formed between canal vessels and subchondral vessels. A shift occurred and vessels in the distal terminus of canals came to use subchondral vessels as their arterial source. Twelve histological lesions were found in 7 foals. All contained necrotic vessels surrounded by necrotic growth cartilage and 3 caused macroscopically visible delay in endochondral ossification. Lesions were located where vessels traversed the ossification front to enter the distal terminus of canals. Conclusions: Cartilage canal vessels are particularly susceptible to failure at the point where they cross the ossification front, with consequences for the viability of those chondrocytes that depend on them. Conclusions: A better understanding of how lesions of OC arise may improve the ability to identify, monitor, prevent and treat this disorder. Involvement of cartilage canals in the pathogenesis of equine tarsal OC plausibly explains several clinical features of this disease.
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Publication Date: 2007-12-18 PubMed ID: 18083657DOI: 10.2746/042516407X239836Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

Researchers examined the blood supply to the growth cartilage in foals to understand its development and its relation to osteochondrosis, a bone disorder. It was found that the blood vessels are susceptible to failure at certain points, which could potentially lead to lesions of osteochondrosis.

Study Objective and Methods

  • The study aimed to discern the developmental pattern of cartilage canal vessels in foals’ distal tibial epiphysis and talar growth cartilage, particularly with relation to osteochondrosis (OC), a disease attributed to changes in the blood supply to growth cartilage.
  • The researchers used a sample of nine foals aged between 0 and 7 weeks, explicitly bred from parents with osteochondrosis (OC). The young horses were euthanized to allow for a barium perfusion procedure.
  • The distal end of the tibia and the entire talus were cleared with methyl salicylate. This allowed the researchers to investigate the perfused vessels in the intact bones.
  • Slabs about 4-5mm thick from three favored sites of OC were examined under a stereomicroscope and light microscopy for further analysis.

Results and Explanation

  • It was found that cartilage canals are present for a limited growth period, with perfused vessels initially entering canals from the perichondrium.
  • With time, an ossification front advanced to incorporate the mid-portion of canals and anastomoses (the connection between two blood vessels) formed between canal vessels and subchondral vessels.
  • Ultimately, a shift occurred wherein the vessels in the distal end of the canals started to use subchondral vessels as their arterial source.
  • The researchers found twelve histological lesions in seven of the nine foals. These lesions all contained necrotic (dead tissue) vessels surrounded by necrotic growth cartilage, and three of these lesions resulted in a visible delay in endochondral ossification.
  • These potentially disease-causing lesions were located where vessels crossed the ossification front to enter the distal terminus of canals.

Conclusions

  • Based on these findings, the study concluded that the vessels supplying the cartilage canals are particularly vulnerable at the point where they cross the ossification front. This susceptibility impacts chondrocyte (cartilage cell) viability that depends on them.
  • The researchers suggest that a better understanding of the formation of OC lesions might enhance the ability to identify, monitor, prevent, and treat OC. The involvement of cartilage canals in the development of equine tarsal OC can potentially explain several clinical characteristics of this disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. (2007). Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foals and relationship to osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J, 40(1), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407X239836

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 40
Issue: 1
Pages: 30-39

Researcher Affiliations

Olstad, K
  • The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Section for Equine Medicine and Surgery, Oslo, Norway.
Ytrehus, B
    Ekman, S
      Carlson, C S
        Dolvik, N I

          MeSH Terms

          • Aging
          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Cartilage, Articular / blood supply
          • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
          • Female
          • Growth Plate / blood supply
          • Growth Plate / pathology
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
          • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Osteochondritis / pathology
          • Osteochondritis / physiopathology
          • Osteochondritis / prevention & control
          • Osteochondritis / veterinary
          • Prevalence
          • Regional Blood Flow
          • Reperfusion / veterinary
          • Tarsus, Animal / blood supply
          • Tarsus, Animal / pathology
          • Tibia / blood supply
          • Tibia / pathology
          • Treatment Outcome

          Citations

          This article has been cited 31 times.
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