Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in simulated large colonic torsion and reperfusion in ponies.
Abstract: This investigation examines the histological and ultrastructural lesions of the colonic mucosa during terminal experimental infarction and subsequent reperfusion. Four ponies were anaesthetised and subjected to surgical torsion of the colon. Biopsies were collected at hourly intervals for 3 h, at which point the torsions were corrected. Circulation was re-established for 2 h and the bowel was re-biopsied at hourly intervals. The ponies were killed while under anaesthesia. During the 3 h experimental infarction, the bowel became macroscopically thickened and dark purple. Histologically, the mucosa degenerated from Grade 0 to Grade 3. Ultrastructurally, there was progressive micro-vascular distension with erythrodiapedesis and damage to the interstitial cells. Spaces developed between the bases and sides of the columnar epithelial cells and sloughing followed subsequently. During the 2 h reperfusion interval, the mucosa continued to degenerate rapidly to a Grade 5, and was characterised by extensive interstitial damage, oedema, cellular swelling, necrosis and mitochondrial damage. The results showed that the experimentally infarcted colonic mucosa degenerated sequentially. Following circulatory reestablishment, continued rapid mucosal degeneration characteristic of reperfusion injury occurred. Reperfusion injury is probably responsible, at least in part, for the often poor outcome of infarcted bowel in horses following surgical correction.
Publication Date: 1991-11-01 PubMed ID: 1778159DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03755.xGoogle 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
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article studies the changes at the cellular level in the colon of ponies subjected to torsion and subsequent reperfusion, finding the colon’s tissue rapidly degenerates during this process, potentially explaining the poor health outcomes in horses after surgical correction of a twisted gut.
Details of the Experiment
- The experimental process involved four ponies that were anaesthetised and subjected to surgical torsion of the colon. Torsion refers to the rotation of the colon around its axis that can result in a blockage of the blood vessels that supply the colon.
- Biopsies were collected from the ponies every hour for three hours while the torsion was left as is. After this, the torsion was corrected, which re-established circulation in the colon. Additional biopsies were done every hour for the next two hours.
Observations made during Torsion
- During the 3-hour period of infarction (obstruction of the blood supply), the surgically twisted bowel of ponies showed prominent changes. It became visibly thick and took a dark purple hue. Infarction leads to the death of tissue due to an interruption in its blood supply.
- Under microscopic examination, there was an evident degeneration of the mucosa or lining of the bowel from Grade 0 to Grade 3. Typically, the grading system is used to categorise the extent or severity of a particular condition or disease.
- At an ultrastructural level, the damage was evident in the micro-vessels of the mucosa, which showed significant expansion and damage to the interstitial cells.
Observations made after Reperfusion
- “Reperfusion” refers to the process of reestablishing the circulation by untwisting the torsion.
- The degeneration of the mucosa continued during the 2-hour reperfusion process, extending to a Grade 5, characterised by widespread damage to the interstitial region, oedema (swelling), cellular swelling, tissue death or necrosis, and damage to the mitochondria.
Conclusions and Implications
- The findings of the study suggest that both the process of infarction and reperfusion lead to sequential degeneration of the colonic mucosa, and the reperfusion especially causes rapid degeneration.
- These observations could explain the often poor outcomes in horses after surgical correction of a twisted bowel. The damage done in the process of the condition and its treatment could have long-term effects on the horse’s health.
Cite This Article
APA
Meschter CL, Craig D, Hackett R.
(1991).
Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in simulated large colonic torsion and reperfusion in ponies.
Equine Vet J, 23(6), 426-433.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03755.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colon / pathology
- Colon / ultrastructure
- Colonic Diseases / pathology
- Colonic Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
- Intestinal Mucosa / ultrastructure
- Microscopy, Electron
- Reperfusion Injury / pathology
- Reperfusion Injury / veterinary
- Torsion Abnormality
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Sharifi K, Mostaghni K, Maleki M, Badiei K. Ischaemia/reperfusion injury in experimentally induced abomasal volvulus in sheep. Vet Res Commun 2007 Jul;31(5):575-90.
- Mirza MH, Oliver JL, Seahorn TL, Hosgood G, Moore RM. Detection and comparison of nitric oxide in clinically normal horses and those with naturally acquired small intestinal strangulation obstruction. Can J Vet Res 1999 Oct;63(4):230-40.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
