Hindlimb laminar inflammatory response is similar to that present in forelimbs after carbohydrate overload in horses.
Abstract: A significant proinflammatory response is known to occur in the forelimb lamina after carbohydrate administration. As the hindlimbs are often less affected by laminitis compared with the forelimbs, we assessed hindlimb inflammatory response in the early stages of carbohydrate-induced laminitis to determine whether differences in the response existed. Objective: To determine whether a similar proinflammatory response occurs in the hindlimb laminae to that previously reported for the forelimb. Methods: Archived laminar samples from 12 horses administered 17.6 g of starch (85% corn starch, 15% wood flour)/kg bwt via nasogastric tube that were anaesthetised either after developing a temperature >38.9°C (DEV; n = 6) or at the onset of Obel grade 1 lameness (OG1; n = 6) were used in addition to 6 control horses (CON) that were anaesthetised 24 h after administration of water. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for selected proinflammatory mediators and MAC387 immunohistochemistry were performed. The data were analysed nonparametrically to compare groups. Results: Increases in laminar MAC387-positive leucocytes and laminar messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) concentrations (P<0.05) for interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclo-oxygenase-2, chemokine (C-X-C motif)ligand (CXCL)1 and CXCL8 were present in both fore- and hindlimb laminae from horses with OG1 lameness. Both CXCL1 and CXCL8 were also increased in forelimb and hindlimb laminae in the DEV horses. Conclusions: Administration of carbohydrate resulted in a similar inflammatory response in the hindlimb laminae to that previously reported for the forelimb laminae. These findings suggest that other factors, such as weightbearing, may play an important role in the development of laminitis after a systemic inflammatory condition develops. Conclusions: Evidence of inflammation in the hindlimb laminae suggests that the hindfeet should be addressed in the septic horse at risk for laminitis; however, laminitis is often less severe in the hindlimbs due to other factors, such as weightbearing and hoof angle.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-12-30 PubMed ID: 22212091DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00531.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This research investigates the inflammatory response in horse limbs following carbohydrate overload and determines that hindlimb lamina inflammation mirrors that experienced in forelimbs. The findings indicate factors such as weight bearing could influence the onset of laminitis due to systemic inflammation.
Research Objective
The aim of the study was to ascertain the nature of an inflammatory response in a horse’s hindlimb lamina following carbohydrate overload. A known proinflammatory response occurs in the forelimb lamina after carbohydrate administration, but it wasn’t clear whether this was mirrored in the hindlimbs, which are generally less affected by laminitis.
Methods
- Archived laminar samples taken from 12 horses were used. These horses had been given a starch mixture (85% corn starch, 15% wood flour) via a nasogastric tube, producing a carbohydrate overload.
- Six of these horses developed a temperature exceeding 38.9 degrees Celsius (DEV group), whereas the other six demonstrated the start of Obel grade 1 lameness (OG1 group).
- For comparison, a control group (CON) of six horses was also included, these horses were anaesthetised 24 hours after being given water.
- A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for a selection of proinflammatory mediators and MAC387 immunohistochemistry were conducted for all samples.
- The data was nonparametrically analyzed to compare groups.
Results
- An increase in laminar MAC387-positive leucocytes and mRNA concentrations, indicative of inflammation, was seen in both the forelimb and hindlimb laminae of horses from the OG1 lameness group.
- The DEV group horses also showed increased levels of CXCL1 and CXCL8 in the forelimb and hindlimb laminae, further demonstrating an inflammatory response.
Conclusions
- Both the horse’s hindlimb and forelimb laminae show a similar inflammatory response when subjected to carbohydrate overload.
- This suggests that factors other than the carbohydrate overload might play a significant role in laminitis development, such as weightbearing.
- Despite the inflammation present in the hindlimb laminae, laminitis tends to be less severe in these limbs, potentially due to factors like weightbearing and hoof angle.
This research contributes valuable information towards understanding and treating laminitis in horses, highlighting the need to also consider the hindlimbs in septic horses at risk of laminitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Leise BS, Faleiros RR, Watts M, Johnson PJ, Black SJ, Belknap JK.
(2011).
Hindlimb laminar inflammatory response is similar to that present in forelimbs after carbohydrate overload in horses.
Equine Vet J, 44(6), 633-639.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00531.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Foot Diseases / chemically induced
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Forelimb / pathology
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Hoof and Claw / drug effects
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / chemically induced
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Starch / adverse effects
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Burns TA, Watts MR, Belknap JK, van Eps AW. Digital lamellar inflammatory signaling in an experimental model of equine preferential weight bearing. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Mar;37(2):681-688.
- Pratt-Phillips S, Munjizun A. Impacts of Adiposity on Exercise Performance in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
- Watts MR, Hegedus OC, Eades SC, Belknap JK, Burns TA. Association of sustained supraphysiologic hyperinsulinemia and inflammatory signaling within the digital lamellae in light-breed horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1483-1492.
- Underberg BA, Van der Vekens E, Drews B, Kaessmeyer S. Cyclooxygenase-2 and von Willebrand factor-an immunohistochemical study of the equine foot with and without laminitis, post-mortem perfused with paraffin oil. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1673415.
- Guedes JRB, Vendruscolo CP, Tokawa PKA, Carvalho AM, Johnson PJ, Faleiros RR. The Detection of Thoracolumbar Spine Injuries in Horses with Chronic Laminitis Using a Novel Clinical-Assessment Protocol and Ultrasonographic Examination. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 30;14(9).
- Di Cesare F, Negro V, Ravasio G, Villa R, Draghi S, Cagnardi P. Gabapentin: Clinical Use and Pharmacokinetics in Dogs, Cats, and Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 20;13(12).
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