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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Res Commun / Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: age-related...
Veterinary research communications2000; 23(1); 15-40; doi: 10.1023/a:1006102921304

Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: age-related changes and influence of exercise.

Abstract: Navicular bones from the four limbs of 95 horses, classified in 9 categories, were studied. The effects of age on navicular bone morphometry and histomorphometry were estimated, after adjustment of the data to even out the effects of front and rear limbs, morphometrical type, sex, weight, and size. All the external measurements of the navicular bone decreased significantly with increasing age. From the histomorphometrical data, cortical bone volume decreased with age in most horses, whereas cancellous bone volume and, in particular, the marrow spaces increased. The increase in the cancellous bone volume could have resulted from tunnelling of the internal part of the cortex, which converted it progressively into a porous trabecular-like structure. Trabecular bone volume also decreased with age and the trabecular lattice changed dramatically to become disconnected in aged horses. These observations corresponded closely to those reported for ageing of the skeletal system in humans. However, in sporting horses, the navicular cortical bone volume increased with age and the cancellous bone volume decreased. Exercise appeared to have decreased bone resorption and increased bone formation at the endocortical junction. The cancellous bone architecture was also improved. in that the trabecular lattice and trabecular bone volume remained unchanged in aged sporting horses. Our findings confirmed that exercise may be good practice to prevent age-related bone loss.
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Publication Date: 2000-07-25 PubMed ID: 10905816DOI: 10.1023/a:1006102921304Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 discusses changes in the morphometry and histomorphometry of the horse’s navicular bone as influenced by age and exercise. It posits that consistent exercise could potentially prevent age-related bone loss.

Methodology and Observations

  • The research involved a study of navicular bones from the four limbs of 95 horses, which were classified into 9 categories.
  • Factors like the front and rear limbs, morphometrical type, sex, weight, and size were adjusted to get an unbiased estimation of the effects of age on the navicular bone.
  • The study found that all external measurements of the navicular bone reduced significantly as the age of the horse increased.
  • From the histomorphometric data, it was observed that the cortical bone volume decreased with age in most horses, while the cancellous bone volume and the marrow spaces increased.
  • Such changes could be the result of the internal part of the cortex being progressively converted into a porous trabecular-like structure with age.
  • It was also observed that the trabecular bone volume decreased with age and the trabecular lattice became disconnected in older horses.

Analogies with Human Aged Skeleton

  • These changes observed in the equine skeletal system closely mimic the ageing process observed in the human skeletal system.

Impact of Exercise on Navicular Bone

  • Different results were observed in horses that were involved in sports.
  • The navicular cortical bone volume increased with age and cancellous bone volume reduced in these horses, which can be attributed to consistent exercise.
  • Exercise seemed to have reduced bone resorption and increased bone formation at the endocortical junction, leading to an improved structure of the cancellous bone.
  • Notably, the trabecular lattice and trabecular bone volume remained the same in aged sporting horses.

Conclusion

  • The study confirmed that regular exercise may be beneficial in preventing age-related bone loss in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Gabrie A, Detilleux J, Jolly S, Reginster J-Y , Collin B, Dessy-Doizé C. (2000). Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: age-related changes and influence of exercise. Vet Res Commun, 23(1), 15-40. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006102921304

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 0165-7380
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Pages: 15-40

Researcher Affiliations

Gabrie, A
  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Detilleux, J
    Jolly, S
      Reginster J-Y,
        Collin, B
          Dessy-Doizé, C

            MeSH Terms

            • Age Factors
            • Animals
            • Bone Density / physiology
            • Bone Diseases / etiology
            • Bone Diseases / veterinary
            • Female
            • Hoof and Claw / anatomy & histology
            • Horse Diseases / etiology
            • Horses
            • Lameness, Animal / etiology
            • Male
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal
            • Sesamoid Bones / anatomy & histology

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 2 times.
            1. Alghadir AH, Gabr SA, Al-Eisa ES, Alghadir MH. Correlation between bone mineral density and serum trace elements in response to supervised aerobic training in older adults.. Clin Interv Aging 2016;11:265-73.
              doi: 10.2147/CIA.S100566pubmed: 27013870google scholar: lookup
            2. Alghadir AH, Aly FA, Gabr SA. Effect of Moderate Aerobic Training on Bone Metabolism Indices among Adult Humans.. Pak J Med Sci 2014 Jul;30(4):840-4.
              doi: 10.12669/pjms.304.4624pubmed: 25097528google scholar: lookup
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