Exploratory Metabolomic Fingerprinting of Aqueous Humor in Healthy Horses and Donkeys, and in Horses with Ocular Pathologies.
Abstract: This study aims to generate foundational metabolomic data of aqueous humor (AH) in healthy horses and donkeys, and to investigate potential changes or trends in the metabolomic profile associated with age, sex or ocular pathology in horses. The AH metabolomic fingerprint from 5 donkeys and 35 equine eyes (17 controls, 8 with cataracts, 6 with retinal disease and 4 with anterior chamber disease (ACD)) were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A linear mixed-effects model, with individual horse as a random effect and group as a fixed effect, with multiple testing correction using the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) method was used to compare groups. The metabolomic profile of the donkeys and horse's AH is very similar to that of other mammals. Threonine was higher in young horses ( = 0.04), and creatinine was elevated in males ( = 0.04). Compared with control groups, dimethyl sulfone was higher in the retina ( < 0.00) and cataract ( = 0.05) groups. Arginine ( = 0.05) and valine ( = 0.03) were lower in the retina group compared to controls. This study successfully characterized the AH metabolomic profile in healthy horses and donkeys and identified several metabolites that could be associated with ocular pathology, warranting further investigation to determine their potential as biomarkers of ocular disease.
Publication Date: 2025-09-26 PubMed ID: 41096405PubMed Central: PMC12524221DOI: 10.3390/ani15192810Google 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
Summary
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Research Overview
- This study explores the chemical composition (metabolomic fingerprint) of the aqueous humor (AH) fluid within the eyes of healthy horses and donkeys, as well as horses with certain eye diseases.
- The goal was to identify specific metabolites that differ based on species, age, sex, or the presence of eye diseases, potentially revealing biomarkers for ocular health or pathology.
Background and Objectives
- Aqueous Humor (AH): A clear fluid in the front part of the eye that helps maintain eye pressure and nourishes eye tissues.
- Metabolomics: The study of small molecules (metabolites) within biological fluids or tissues to understand biological processes or disease states.
- The study focused on profiling metabolites in AH from:
- Healthy horses and donkeys
- Horses with ocular pathologies including cataracts, retinal diseases, and anterior chamber disease (ACD)
- Aims:
- Establish baseline metabolomic profiles for healthy equines’ AH
- Identify metabolite changes associated with age, sex, and specific eye diseases in horses
Methods
- Sample collection:
- AH samples were collected from 5 donkeys and 35 horse eyes (17 healthy controls, 8 with cataracts, 6 with retinal disease, 4 with anterior chamber disease)
- Analysis technique:
- Used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to detect and quantify metabolites in the AH samples
- Statistical analysis:
- Applied a linear mixed-effects model considering individual horses as random effects and group as fixed effects
- Used Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) method to correct for multiple testing and control false positives
Key Findings
- Species comparison: The metabolomic profile of AH in donkeys and horses was very similar to profiles seen in other mammalian species.
- Age-related differences: Threonine levels were significantly higher in younger horses.
- Sex differences: Creatinine concentrations were elevated in male horses compared to females.
- Ocular pathology associations:
- Dimethyl sulfone: Higher levels found in horses with retinal disease and cataracts versus controls.
- Arginine and valine: Lower levels observed in horses with retinal disease compared to healthy controls.
Implications and Future Directions
- This study provides the first detailed metabolomic characterization of AH in healthy horses and donkeys, establishing critical baseline data.
- The identification of specific metabolites altered in eye diseases suggests these molecules could be potential biomarkers for early diagnosis or monitoring of ocular pathology in horses.
- Further research is needed to:
- Validate these metabolite changes in larger equine populations
- Understand the biological role of these metabolites in eye health and disease
- Explore the potential for clinical application in veterinary ophthalmology
Cite This Article
APA
Corradini I, Jose-Cunilleras E, Nolis P, López-Murcia MM, Mayordomo-Febrer A.
(2025).
Exploratory Metabolomic Fingerprinting of Aqueous Humor in Healthy Horses and Donkeys, and in Horses with Ocular Pathologies.
Animals (Basel), 15(19), 2810.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192810 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain.
- Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain.
Grant Funding
- INDI 16/19 / Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU
- GIR 23/42 / Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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