Histological and histochemical characterisation of the equine soft palate muscles.
Abstract: Dysfunction of the muscles is implicated in the pathogenesis of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in exercising horses. The histological features of normal equine soft palate muscles have not been previously described. Objective: To describe the histological and morphometric features of normal equine soft palate muscles. Methods: The palatinus, palatopharyngeus, levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini muscles of 6 Thoroughbred type horses were examined histologically and histochemically to assess their general morphology, fibre-type distribution and mean fibre diameter. Results: The muscles of all 6 specimens showed very similar characteristics, including a low proportion of type 1 muscle fibres in the 4 different muscles examined, with the 3 muscles innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus (i.e. palatopharyngeus, palatinus and levator veli palatini) having significantly fewer (P<0.005) type 1 muscle fibres compared to the tensor veli palatini. The mean fibre diameters were significantly (P<0.05) smaller in type 1 than type 2 fibres in all muscles except the palatinus. Considerable variability in mean fibre size diameter was evident in all muscles examined, with type 1 fibres in the levator veli palatini and rostral fasciculus of the palatopharyngeus and both fibre types in the caudal fasciculus of the palatopharyngeus having the most marked variation, with coefficients of variation >250 and the latter also having high levels of endomysial connective tissue. The palatinus had least variation in fibre size. Conclusions: Morphological characterisation of the normal soft palate muscles may provide reference values for future comparative studies with samples obtained from horses with palatal dysfunction. The palatinus appears to be the best muscle to histologically examine for evidence of muscle abnormality.
Publication Date: 2010-07-20 PubMed ID: 20636780DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00067.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study details the first-ever histological and histochemical analysis of normal equine soft palate muscles to provide reference values for future studies on disorders like intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in horses.
Overview of the Study
- The study aims to derive a detailed description of the histological (tissue structure) and morphometric (form and size) features of normal equine soft palate muscles. This fills the gap in scientific literature as these aspects have not been previously described in detail.
- The muscles examined in this study include the palatinus, palatopharyngeus, levator veli palatini, and tensor veli palatini taken from six Thoroughbred type horses.
Methods
- The researchers carried out histological and histochemical tests to ascertain general morphology, fibre-type distribution, and mean fibre diameter of the examined muscles.
Findings
- Across all the specimens, the muscles showed similar traits. Interestingly, the proportion of type 1 muscle fibres was low in all four muscles, with those innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus (palatopharyngeus, palatinus, and levator veli palatini) showing significantly fewer type 1 muscle fibres compared to the tensor veli palatini.
- The study found that type 1 fibres had notably smaller mean diameters compared to type 2 fibres in all muscles except the palatinus.
- There was considerable variation in mean fibre size diameter throughout all muscles examined. The most significant variation was observed in type 1 fibres in the levator veli palatini and the rostral fasciculus of the palatopharyngeus, as well as in both fibre types in the caudal fasciculus of the palatopharyngeus.
Conclusions
- The outcome of the research offers valuable morphological characterisation of the normal soft palate muscles. It can serve as a reference for future comparative studies involving samples from horses suffering from palatal dysfunction.
- Based on this research, the palatinus seems to be the ideal muscle to examine histologically for evidence of muscular abnormalities in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hawkes CS, Hahn CN, Dixon PM.
(2010).
Histological and histochemical characterisation of the equine soft palate muscles.
Equine Vet J, 42(5), 431-437.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00067.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Large Animal Hospital, Midlothian, UK. claire.s.hawkes@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Muscle, Skeletal / anatomy & histology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Palate, Soft / anatomy & histology
- Palate, Soft / physiology
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