Intervertebral disc degeneration in warmblood horses: Histological and biochemical characterization.
Abstract: Gross morphology of healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) is largely similar in horses as in dogs and humans. For further comparison, the biochemical composition and the histological and biochemical changes with age and degeneration were analyzed in 41 warmblood horses. From 33 horses, 139 discs and 2 fetal vertebral columns were evaluated and scored histologically. From 13 horses, 73 IVDs were assessed for hydration, DNA, glycosaminoglycans, total collagen, hydroxyl-lysyl-pyridinoline, hydroxylysine, and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) content. From 7 horses, 20 discs were assessed for aggrecan, fibronectin, and collagen type 1 and 2 content. Histologically, tearing of the nucleus pulposus (NP) and cervical annulus fibrosus (AF), and total histological score (tearing and vascular proliferation of the AF, and chondroid metaplasia, chondrocyte-like cell proliferation, presence of notochordal cells, matrix staining, and tearing of the NP) correlated with gross degeneration. Notochordal cells were not seen in IVDs of horses. Age and gross degeneration were positively correlated with AGEs and a fibrotic phenotype, explaining gross degenerative changes. In contrast to dogs and humans, there was no consistent difference in glycosaminoglycan content and hydration between AF and NP, nor decrease of these variables with age or degeneration. Hydroxylysine decrease and collagen 1 and AGEs increase were most prominent in the NP, suggesting degeneration started in the AP. In caudal cervical NPs, AGE deposition was significantly increased in grossly normal IVDs and total collagen significantly increased with age, suggesting increased biomechanical stress and likelihood for spinal disease in this part of the vertebral column.
Publication Date: 2022-01-04 PubMed ID: 35291907PubMed Central: PMC8928235DOI: 10.1177/03009858211067463Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigated the biochemical and histological characteristics of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in warmblood horses. The findings suggest that with age and degeneration, there were significant changes in the biochemical content, which corroborated with the progression of degenerative changes observable in gross morphology.
Objective and Methodology
- The researchers conducted a detailed analysis of intervertebral discs (IVDs) from 41 warmblood horses.
- The study evaluated and scored 139 discs and 2 fetal vertebral columns – derived from 33 horses – histologically, assessing elements like tearing, vascular proliferation, and matrix staining.
- From another set of 13 horses, 73 IVDs were examined for hydration, DNA, glycosaminoglycans, total collagen, and other specific biochemical aspects.
- Additionally, 20 discs from 7 horses were assessed for content of aggrecan, fibronectin, and types 1 and 2 collagen.
Histological Correlations
- The study discovered that the histological score – comprising elements like tearing, vascular proliferation, and chondroid metaplasia – correlated with observable degeneration.
- Interestingly, notochordal cells – vital components in disc health and commonly present in other species – were not visible in the horse IVDs.
Age and Degeneration: Biochemical Changes
- With age and observable gross degeneration, the study found a positive correlation with advanced glycation end-product (AGEs) and a fibrotic phenotype, the latter indicating tissue hardening or scarring due to excessive deposition of fibrous connective tissue.
- However, there was no noticeable difference in glycosaminoglycan content and hydration between the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) sections of the disc, nor a decrease of these variables with age or degeneration, which is different from what we observe in dogs and humans.
Implications for Spinal Health
- The study found that the presence of hydroxylysine decreased, and collagen 1 and AGEs increased most prominently in the NP implying that degeneration might initiate in the anterior part of the disc.
- In the caudal cervical NPs, AGE deposition was found to be significantly increased in apparently normal IVDs, and total collagen significantly increased with age. This suggests increased biomechanical stress and hints at a higher likelihood for the development of spinal disease in this portion of the vertebral column.
Cite This Article
APA
Bergmann W, de Lest CV, Plomp S, Vernooij JCM, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Gröne A, Delany MW, Caliskan N, Tryfonidou MA, Grinwis GCM.
(2022).
Intervertebral disc degeneration in warmblood horses: Histological and biochemical characterization.
Vet Pathol, 59(2), 284-298.
https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858211067463 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Current address: Diergezondheidszorg Vlaanderen (DGZ), Torhout, Belgium.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Collagen
- Dog Diseases / pathology
- Dogs
- Fibrosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hydroxylysine
- Intervertebral Disc / pathology
- Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / pathology
- Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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