Pancreatic injury in equine acute abdomen evaluated by plasma trypsin activity and histopathology of pancreatic tissue.
Abstract: In cases of equine acute abdominal disease, where pancreatic damage is suspected, pancreatic damage can be assessed by measuring increased trypsin activity in the plasma of horses suffering intestinal obstruction and severe shock. The pancreas is particularly vulnerable to splanchnic hypoperfusion because it is a highly active tissue. In this study, 10 horses undergoing abdominal surgery for intestinal obstruction were assayed for trypsin activity on admission and, because of extensive intestinal lesions that were not amenable to surgery, euthanasia was selected; the pancreas was removed before euthanasia. Trypsin activity in the plasma of these horses was significantly higher than in healthy horses (196 ng/ml +/- 128.2 versus 28.5 ng/ml +/- 19.2; P = 0.0026). Light and transmission electron microscopy revealed slight to severe lesions of vacuolar degeneration, a few zymogen granules, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum, and swelling of mitochondria in the exocrine pancreas. The activation of an inflammatory cascade occurring during strangulating intestinal obstruction could increase pancreatic anoxic lesions caused by severe shock and hypoperfusion in the horse. Further studies will show the significance of pancreatic lesions and the ensuing damage in equine acute intestinal obstruction and shock.
Publication Date: 2003-03-12 PubMed ID: 12627708DOI: 10.1354/vp.40-1-8Google 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
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 research investigates how pancreatic damage in horses with acute abdominal disease can be assessed by measuring increased trypsin activity in blood plasma. The study found that horses with intestinal obstruction displayed significantly higher trypsin activity and pancreatic tissue damage.
Research Context and Objectives
- The study investigates pancreatic damage in horses suffering from acute abdominal disease, specifically focusing on cases where the disease leads to suspicion of pancreatic damage.
- The main objective of the study was to evaluate pancreatic damage by measuring trypsin activity in the plasma of horses with intestinal obstruction and severe shock, as the pancreas becomes particularly vulnerable due to splanchnic hypoperfusion.
Methodology
- In this study, 10 horses undergoing abdominal surgery for intestinal obstruction were examined. These horses were diagnosed with extensive intestinal lesions inoperable by surgery, deciding for their euthanasia.
- Prior to euthanasia, the pancreas was removed from each horse, and trypsin activity in the plasma was assayed on admission.
Results and Observations
- Trypsin activity in the plasma of these horses was notably higher than in healthy horses (196 ng/ml +/- 128.2 versus 28.5 ng/ml +/- 19.2; P = 0.0026).
- Microscopic examination of the pancreatic tissue showed slight to severe lesions of vacuolar degeneration, few zymogen granules, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum, and swelling of mitochondria in exocrine cells of the pancreas.
Conclusions and Further Studies
- The study suggests that the inflammatory cascade triggered during strangulating intestinal obstruction could enhance pancreatic anoxic lesions caused by severe shock and hypoperfusion in horses.
- The researchers propose further studies to determine the significance of pancreatic lesions and the resulting damage in horses suffering from acute intestinal obstruction and shock.
Cite This Article
APA
Grulke S, Deby-Dupont G, Cassart D, Gangl M, Caudron I, Lamy M, Serteyn D.
(2003).
Pancreatic injury in equine acute abdomen evaluated by plasma trypsin activity and histopathology of pancreatic tissue.
Vet Pathol, 40(1), 8-13.
https://doi.org/10.1354/vp.40-1-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Anaesthesiology and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium. sgrulke@ulg.ac.be
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Histocytochemistry / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / enzymology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases / enzymology
- Intestinal Diseases / pathology
- Intestinal Diseases / surgery
- Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- Pancreatic Diseases / enzymology
- Pancreatic Diseases / pathology
- Pancreatic Diseases / surgery
- Shock / pathology
- Shock / veterinary
- Trypsin / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Subramanian A, Albert V, Mishra B, Sanoria S, Pandey RM. Association Between the Pancreatic Enzyme Level and Organ Failure in Trauma Patients. Trauma Mon 2016 May;21(2):e20773.
- Faleiros RR, Macoris DG, Alves GE, Souza DG, Teixeira MM, Moore RM. Local and remote lesions in horses subjected to small colon distension and decompression. Can J Vet Res 2008 Jan;72(1):68-76.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
