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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Pharmacological alternatives to oxytetracycline as potential...
Scientific reports2025; 15(1); 15762; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00311-z

Pharmacological alternatives to oxytetracycline as potential treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals: a preliminary in vitro cell viability and proliferation study.

Abstract: Flexural limb deformities are a widespread condition in foals. Oxytetracycline is a common conservative treatment option with relaxing effects on the muscle-tendon-unit, potentially mediated through a matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-inhibitor mechanism. Its high therapeutic dose for this indication, potential negative side effects, and the guidelines for prudent use of antimicrobials make investigating alternatives desirable. In this study, the influence of substances with potentially similar mechanisms of action, however without antimicrobial properties, on viability and proliferation of juvenile myofibroblasts was assessed in vitro. Myofibroblasts from forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons and accessory ligaments of the deep digital flexor tendon from 6 foals, euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study, were cultured and characterized. The myofibroblasts were incubated with oxytetracycline, the MMP-inhibitors incyclinide, ilomastat, aprotinin, pentoxifylline, the lathyrogenic agent β-aminopropionitrile fumarate and Dulbecco's modified eagle medium as control. Colorimetric cell viability (MTS) and crystal violet assays assessed their viability and proliferation capacities. The morphology and immunohistochemistry profile of the cultured cells was consistent with tendon and ligament myofibroblasts. All test substances were biocompatible, shown by the absence of significant differences with cells incubated with medium, demonstrating the absence of cytotoxic or anti-proliferative effect on juvenile myofibroblasts in the tested concentrations in this preliminary study.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-05-06 PubMed ID: 40328831PubMed Central: PMC12056144DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-00311-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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 article investigates possible alternative treatments to oxytetracycline for flexural limb deformities in foals. The research looks at substances with similar mechanisms but without antimicrobial properties and assesses their impact on cell viability and growth in vitro.

Objective of Research

  • The study aimed to find pharmacological alternatives to oxytetracycline for the treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals.
  • Considering the high therapeutic dosage of oxytetracycline, potential negative side effects, and prudent use guidelines of antimicrobials, the study attempts to find treatment alternatives with similar mechanisms of action but without antimicrobial properties.

Methodology

  • Myofibroblasts, a type of cell involved in wound healing and tissue repair, from forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons and accessory ligaments of the deep digital flexor tendon from 6 foals were cultured and characterized.
  • The cells were then subjected to treatment with several substances, including oxytetracycline, MMP-inhibitors incyclinide, ilomastat, aprotinin, pentoxifylline, the lathyrogenic agent β-aminopropionitrile fumarate, and Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium as control.
  • Using the MTS and Crystal Violet assays, the viability and proliferation capabilities of the myofibroblasts were assessed.

Findings

  • The cultured cells were found to be morphologically and immunohistochemically consistent with tendon and ligament myofibroblasts.
  • All test substances, including oxytetracycline and the other substances assessed, showed no significant difference in cell viability or proliferation compared to the control (cells incubated with fresh medium).
  • Considerably, all tested substances had no cytotoxic or anti-proliferative effect on juvenile myofibroblasts, thereby certifying their biocompatibility, in the tested concentrations within this preliminary study.

Implications

  • This research points towards the possibility of employing various alternative treatments to oxytetracycline for treating flexural limb deformities in foals without disturbing their microbiome.
  • Further, it sheds light on the potential of using substances that can target the muscle-tendon-unit without the additional antimicrobial properties of oxytetracycline, reducing the potential side effects and the need for high-dose application.

Cite This Article

APA
Cardinaux EM, Oltmanns H, Beineke A, Meißner J, Geburek F. (2025). Pharmacological alternatives to oxytetracycline as potential treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals: a preliminary in vitro cell viability and proliferation study. Sci Rep, 15(1), 15762. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00311-z

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 15762

Researcher Affiliations

Cardinaux, Emmanuel Mathieu
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany. emmanuel.mathieu.cardinaux@tiho-hannover.de.
Oltmanns, Hilke
  • Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Beineke, Andreas
  • Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Meißner, Jessica
  • Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Geburek, Florian
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Oxytetracycline / pharmacology
  • Oxytetracycline / therapeutic use
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Myofibroblasts / drug effects
  • Myofibroblasts / cytology
  • Tendons / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics statement: The experiments were approved by the animal welfare officer of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (approval number TVO-2023-V-84).

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