[Pilot study of the relationship of free amino acids in serum and in the cerebrospinal fluid of horses].

This research investigates the relationship between the levels of free amino acids in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of horses, specifically in healthy horses compared to those suffering from liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic food poisoning from Senecio alpinus.

Objective of the Study

• This pilot study aimed to understand if there are significant differences in the composition of free amino acids in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of healthy horses compared to those with liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy caused by chronic food poisoning.

Methodology and Findings

• The researchers performed a blind study, collecting serum and CSF from both control horses and horses in hepatic coma after chronic food poisoning with Senecio alpinus.
• They found a distinct difference in the hepatic encephalopathy index in serum and CSF between the two groups. For the horses in hepatic coma, the index values in serum and CSF were less than 1.65 and 1.11 respectively. Meanwhile, the control group showed index values greater than 2.42 in serum and 1.49 in CSF.
• Furthermore, the researchers observed a five-fold increase in the serum concentrations of glutamic acid in horses with hepatic coma compared to the control group.

Implications of the Findings

• These findings suggest that horses with hepatic encephalopathy exhibit different amino acid profiles, characterised by lower hepatic encephalopathy index values and significantly higher levels of glutamic acid in the serum.
• An indication of ammonia detoxification was a nearly ten-fold increase in glutamine levels in the CSF of the affected horses compared to the serum. However, the serum levels of glutamine in affected horses were lower than in the controls by a factor of 0.7.
• Overall, the study provides an important insight into the relationship between serum and CSF amino acid profiles and may offer valuable data for developing diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for horses affected by hepatic encephalopathy due to food poisoning.