Influence of age on surfactant isolated from healthy horses maintained on pasture.
- 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 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
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.
