Glyceryl trinitrate enhances nitric oxide mediated perfusion within the equine hoof.

The research investigates how glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), a nitric oxide donor, can increase blood flow in horse hooves, thus potentially improving lameness associated with the microvascular disease, laminitis.

Introduction and Background

• Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of hoofed animals, most notably horses. It is characterized by severe lameness triggered by the inflammation of the laminae tissue that connect the pedal bone to the hoof wall.
• Previous research has indicated that there can be significant haemostasis (stoppage of blood flow) and ischemia (insufficient blood flow) within the hoof during acute laminitis.
• It was also empirically observed through earlier studies that lameness due to acute laminitis could be mitigated with the administration of 1-arginine, an amino acid that boosts nitric oxide production and blood flow.

Focus of The Study

• This research focuses on the use of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), a nitric oxide donor, as a potential agent to promote blood flow within the equine hoof.
• Nitric oxide is crucial because it can widen blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery around the body.
• The GTN was applied to the horses’ pasterns—the area above the hoof and below the fetlock—in a transdermal manner.

Methodology and Results

• A Quantitative Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) method was employed to monitor and measure blood flow within the equine hoof.
• Findings from the NIRS study demonstrated that transdermal GTN did, indeed, increase blood flow in the equine hoof.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that glyceryl trinitrate enhances nitric oxide mediated perfusion—or blood flow—within the equine hoof.
• This enhancement was found to occur in both normal horses and ponies, as well as those suffering from chronic laminitis, thereby suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of GTN in the management of laminitis.