Expression of PGP 9.5 by enteric neurons in horses and donkeys with and without intestinal disease.
Abstract: Intestinal motility disorders are an important problem in horses and donkeys and this study was carried out in order to evaluate the enteric neurons in animals with and without intestinal disease. Surplus intestinal tissue samples were collected from 28 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for colic. In addition, surplus intestinal samples from 17 control horses were collected immediately following humane destruction for clinical conditions not relating to the intestinal tract. Similar samples were also collected during routine post-mortem examinations from 12 aged donkeys; six animals were humanely destroyed for conditions related to the intestinal tract, while the remaining six were humanely destroyed for other reasons including dental and orthopaedic diseases. Tissue samples were fixed in formalin and immunohistochemical labelling was performed targeting the enteric neurons using a polyclonal antibody specific for the neuronal marker PGP 9.5. The distribution and density of neuronal networks were assessed qualitatively and semiquantitatively. There was strong PGP 9.5 expression in both the horse and donkey samples and labelling was detected throughout the tissue sections. In both species, PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibres were detected in all layers of the intestinal tract, both in large and small intestinal samples. Networks of enteric neurons were present in the donkey with a similar distribution to that seen in the horse. There was no demonstrable difference in enteric neuronal density and distribution in the groups of animals with intestinal disease compared with those without, apart from two (out of 28) horses with intestinal disease that showed a marked reduction in PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity. Apart from these two animals, this total cohort analysis differs from some previously observed findings in horses with intestinal disease and may therefore reflect the different pathophysiological processes occurring in varying intestinal conditions resulting in colic both in the donkey and the horse.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-11-27 PubMed ID: 24444819DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2013.11.203Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the expression of the neuronal marker PGP 9.5 in equine enteric, or gut, neurons in healthy horses, horses with intestinal issues, and both healthy and sick donkeys. The study found that PGP 9.5 was abundant and equally distributed among all specimens apart from two horses with intestinal disease where PGP 9.5 was notably reduced.
Sample and Methodology
- Intestinal tissue samples were sourced from 28 horses that were being treated surgically for colic (a digestive disorder). These formed the group of animals with intestinal disease.
- For the control group, tissues were procured from 17 other horses that were euthanized due to conditions unrelated to the gut.
- The same samples were also gathered from 12 elderly donkeys. Six of these were euthanized due to intestinal tract related diseases while the other six were euthanized due to other reasons including orthopedic and dental diseases.
- All tissue samples were preserved in formalin and immunohistochemical labelling was conducted, specifically targeting the neurons in the gut using a polyclonal antibody that is specific for PGP 9.5.
Results of the Study
- PGP 9.5 was found to be strongly expressed in both horse and donkey samples, with its presence being noted throughout all the tissue sections examined.
- Immunoreactive nerve fibers related to PGP 9.5 were detectable in all layers of the intestinal tract, regardless of it being a large or small intestinal sample.
- The enteric neurons showed similar distribution patterns in both donkeys and horses.</li
Significance of the Study
- No substantial difference was observed in the density and distribution of enteric neurons in animals suffering from intestinal disease as compared to those that were healthy – with the exception of two horses who had markedly lower levels of PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity.
- The findings are somewhat inconsistent with previous studies that demonstrated significantly different levels of PGP 9.5 expression in horses suffering from intestinal diseases. This inconsistency may be due to the variation of pathophysiological processes in different types of colic conditions that afflict donkeys and horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG, Proudman CJ, Burden FA, Fintl C.
(2013).
Expression of PGP 9.5 by enteric neurons in horses and donkeys with and without intestinal disease.
J Comp Pathol, 150(2-3), 225-233.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2013.11.203 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK. Electronic address: neil.hudson@ed.ac.uk.
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK.
- Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Tennent Drive, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, North Palmerston, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
- The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU, UK.
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, PO Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / metabolism
- Colic / pathology
- Colic / veterinary
- Enteric Nervous System / metabolism
- Enteric Nervous System / pathology
- Equidae
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases / metabolism
- Intestinal Diseases / pathology
- Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Intestine, Small / metabolism
- Intestine, Small / pathology
- Neurons / metabolism
- Neurons / pathology
- Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Kupczyk P, Rykala M, Serek P, Pawlak A, Slowikowski B, Holysz M, Chodaczek G, Madej JP, Ziolkowski P, Niedzwiedz A. The cannabinoid receptors system in horses: Tissue distribution and cellular identification in skin. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1508-1524.
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