Mechanoreceptors in the Anterior Horn of the Equine Medial Meniscus: an Immunohistochemical Approach.
Abstract: Lameness due to stifle and especially meniscal lesions is frequent in equine species. In humans, mechanoreceptors involved in proprioceptive function are well studied. Given the high incidence of meniscal injuries in horses, and the lack of information concerning them in equine menisci, our objective was to study these corpuscles in six healthy anterior horns of the equine medial meniscus, which is the most common localisation reported for equine meniscal injuries. Immunohistochemical stainings were performed using antibodies against high molecular weight neurofilaments and glial fibrillary acidic proteins. From a purely fundamental point of view, our work highlights for the first time the presence of Ruffini, Pacini and Golgi corpuscles in equine meniscus. They were found, isolated or in clusters and always located at the vicinity of blood vessels, at the level of the anterior horn of the equine medial meniscus. This morphological approach could serve as a basis for clinical studies, to evaluate the impact of these corpuscles on the poor sportive prognosis in equine meniscal tears.
© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2015-04-23 PubMed ID: 25904399DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12181Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the presence of mechanoreceptors in the anterior horn of the equine medial meniscus using immunohistochemical approaches, and reveals the presence of Ruffini, Pacini and Golgi corpuscles for the first time, with potential clinical implications for the prognosis of equine meniscal tears.
Objective of the Study
- The main objective of this study was to investigate the existence and distribution of mechanoreceptors in the anterior horn of the equine medial meniscus. This part of the body is frequently associated with meniscal injuries in horses.
- These mechanoreceptors play a crucial role in proprioception in humans and hence, understanding their presence and functions in horses could provide more insight into the frequent occurrence of meniscal injuries in this species.
Methodology
- Immunohistochemical staining was utilised in this research to pinpoint the presence of the mechanoreceptors.
- Specifically, researchers used antibodies against high molecular weight neurofilaments and glial fibrillary acidic proteins to assist in the staining process.
- The tissues for the study were procured from six healthy anterior horns of the equine medial meniscus.
Findings
- This study documented for the first time the presence of Ruffini, Pacini and Golgi corpuscles, which are different kinds of mechanoreceptors, in the equine meniscus.
- These corpuscles were either found isolated or in clusters, always located close to blood vessels in the anterior horn of the equine medial meniscus.
Implications
- From a fundamental point of view, these findings suggest a previously unrecognized morphological feature in the equine meniscus.
- This methodological approach and the identification of these corpuscles can later serve as the basis for clinical studies.
- Understanding the presence and function of these corpuscles could further be extrapolated to evaluate their impact on the poor prognosis of physical performance often noticeable in equine meniscal tears.
Cite This Article
APA
Nemery E, Gabriel A, Grulke S, Piret J, Toppets V, Antoine N.
(2015).
Mechanoreceptors in the Anterior Horn of the Equine Medial Meniscus: an Immunohistochemical Approach.
Anat Histol Embryol, 45(2), 131-139.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12181 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster - B43a, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
- Anatomy Unit, Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster - B43a, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
- Large Animal Surgical Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster -Equine Clinic B41, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
- Histology Unit, Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster - B43a, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
- Histology Unit, Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster - B43a, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
- Histology Unit, Department of Morphology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 20 Boulevard de Colonster - B43a, Liège, B-4000, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibody Specificity
- Cryoultramicrotomy / veterinary
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Immunoenzyme Techniques / veterinary
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Mechanoreceptors / classification
- Mechanoreceptors / metabolism
- Menisci, Tibial / innervation
- Menisci, Tibial / metabolism
- Menisci, Tibial / pathology
- Nerve Fibers / chemistry
- Pacinian Corpuscles / metabolism
- Schwann Cells / chemistry
- Schwann Cells / cytology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Krupkova O, Smolders L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Cook J, Pozzi A. The Pathobiology of the Meniscus: A Comparison Between the Human and Dog. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:73.
- Ribitsch I, Peham C, Ade N, Dürr J, Handschuh S, Schramel JP, Vogl C, Walles H, Egerbacher M, Jenner F. Structure-Function relationships of equine menisci. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194052.
- Nemery E, Gabriel A, Piret J, Antoine N. Nociceptive and sympathetic innervations in the abaxial part of the cranial horn of the equine medial meniscus: an immunohistochemical approach. J Anat 2016 Dec;229(6):791-799.
- Schöpper H, Egerbacher M. Arterial Blood Supply of the Stifle Joint in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 24;14(9).
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