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Influence of age on surfactant isolated from healthy horses maintained on pasture.
Abstract: Surfactant alterations are described in horses after exercise, anesthesia, and prolonged transport, in horses with recurrent airway obstruction, and in neonatal foals. The effect of horse age or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample characteristics on surfactant is unknown. Objective: To evaluate surfactant phospholipid composition and function in healthy horses, and to investigate the influence of age and BALF sample characteristics on surfactant. Methods: Seventeen healthy horses 6-25 years of age maintained on pasture year-round. Methods: BALF was collected by standard procedures and was assessed for recovery volume, nucleated cell count (NCC), and cytology. Cell-free BALF was separated into crude surfactant pellet (CSP) and surfactant supernatant (Supe) by ultracentrifugation. Phospholipid and protein content were determined from both fractions. CSP phospholipid composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scatter detector. Surface tension of CSP was evaluated with a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between age, BALF sample characteristics, and surfactant variables. Results: Results and conclusions were derived from 15 horses. Increasing age was associated with decreased phospholipid content in CSP but not Supe. Age did not affect protein content of CSP or Supe, or surfactant phospholipid composition or function. Age-related surfactant changes were unaffected by BALF recovery percentage, NCC, and cytological profile. Conclusions: Older horses have decreased surfactant phospholipid content, which might be because of age-related pulmonary changes. Surfactant composition is unaffected by BALF sample characteristics at a BALF recovery percentage of at least 50%.
Publication Date: 2009-08-04 PubMed ID: 19645843DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0298.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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Age Factors
- Biochemistry
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Cells
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Horses
- Immune System
- Laboratory Methods
- Lipids
- Pasture Management
- Physiology
- Protein
- Pulmonary Health
- Regression Analysis
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Research
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.
This study investigates how the age of healthy horses affects the composition and function of surfactant, a substance in their lungs, and if the characteristics of sampled lung fluid influence these surfactant properties.
Objective and Methods
The researchers aimed to examine the surfactant phospholipid composition and functionality in healthy horses, and to determine if age and lung fluid sample attributes impact these. They collected the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), a fluid for examining the state of the lungs, from 17 horses aged between 6 to 25 years, using standard procedures. The BALF samples were assessed for recovery volume, nucleated cell count (NCC), and cytology – the latter being the study of cells.
- BALF was separated into two parts: a crude surfactant pellet (CSP) and surfactant supernatant (Supe) via ultracentrifugation, a process that spins substances extremely fast to separate components.
- Phospholipid and protein content was measured in both parts. The phospholipid composition of the CSP was then analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography – a method used to separate and identify elements within a mixture.
- The surface tension of the CSP, indicating surfactant function, was measured using a pulsating bubble surfactometer, which mimics the behavior of human lungs.
Results and Interpretation
The researchers’ evaluations and conclusions were ultimately based on data from 15 horses. Their analysis revealed that as the horses aged, the phospholipid content in the CSP decreased. However, this trend wasn’t observed in the Supe. Additionally, the age of the horses did not affect the protein content in either the CSP or the Supe, nor did it impact the composition or function of the surfactant phospholipids.
- Notably, these age-related changes in surfactant were not influenced by the recovery percentage of BALF, NCC, and the cytological profile.
Conclusions
Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that older horses exhibit a decrease in surfactant phospholipid content, potentially due to age-related changes in their lungs. Finally, they concluded that the surfactant composition is not affected by the characteristics of the BALF sample when a BALF recovery percentage of 50% or higher is achieved.
Cite This Article
APA
Christmann U, Hite RD, Witonsky SG, Elvinger F, Werre SR, Thatcher CD, Tan RH, Buechner-Maxwell VA.
(2009).
Influence of age on surfactant isolated from healthy horses maintained on pasture.
J Vet Intern Med, 23(3), 612-618.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0298.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442, USA. chrisun@vt.edu
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
- Horses / physiology
- Pulmonary Surfactants / analysis
- Pulmonary Surfactants / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Bollag WB, Gonzales JN. Phosphatidylglycerol and surfactant: A potential treatment for COVID-19?. Med Hypotheses 2020 Nov;144:110277.
- Jo YY, Lee KC, Chang YJ, Jung WS, Park J, Kwak HJ. Effects of an Alveolar Recruitment Maneuver During Lung Protective Ventilation on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Elderly Patients Undergoing Laparoscopy. Clin Interv Aging 2020;15:1461-1469.
- Bullone M, Lavoie JP. The Contribution of Oxidative Stress and Inflamm-Aging in Human and Equine Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2017 Dec 5;18(12).
- Pacheco AP, Paradis MR, Hoffman AM, Hermida P, Sanchez A, Nadeau JA, Tufts M, Mazan MR. Age effects on blood gas, spirometry, airway reactivity, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in clinically healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):603-8.
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