Regional distribution of collagen and haemosiderin in the lungs of horses with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
Abstract: Regional veno-occlusive remodelling of pulmonary veins in EIPH-affected horses, suggests that pulmonary veins may be central to pathogenesis. The current study quantified site-specific changes in vein walls, collagen and haemosiderin accumulation, and pleural vascular profiles in the lungs of horses suffering EIPH. Objective: In the caudodorsal lung regions of EIPH-affected horses, there is veno-occlusive remodelling with haemosiderosis, angiogenesis and fibrosis of the interstitium, interlobular septa and pleura. Methods: Morphometric methods were used to analyse the distribution and accumulation of pulmonary collagen and haemosiderin, and to count pleural vascular profiles in the lungs of 5 EIPH-affected and 2 control horses. Results: Vein wall thickness was greatest in the dorsocaudal lung and significantly correlated with haemosiderin accumulation. Increased venous, interstitial, pleural and septal collagen; lung haemosiderin; and pleural vascular profiles occurred together and changes were most pronounced in the dorsocaudal lung. Further, haemosiderin accumulation colocalised with decreased pulmonary vein lumen size. Vein wall thickening, haemosiderin accumulation and histological score were highly correlated and these changes occurred only in the caudodorsal part of the lung. Conclusions: The colocalisation of these changes suggests that regional (caudodorsal) venous remodelling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of EIPH. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that repeated bouts of venous hypertension during strenuous exercise cause regional vein wall remodelling and collagen accumulation, venous occlusion and pulmonary capillary hypertension. Subjected to these high pressures, there is capillary stress failure, bleeding, haemosiderin accumulation and, subsequently, lung fibrosis.
Publication Date: 2009-10-07 PubMed ID: 19803055DOI: 10.2746/042516409x429419Google 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.
The research article is examining the changes in the lungs of horses affected by exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), specifically the increased presence of haemosiderin and collagen, and their link to venous remodelling in these horses.
Study Rationale and Objectives
- The research was fueled by observations of changes in the pulmonary veins of horses suffering from Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH), a condition wherein the lung’s blood vessels rupture during strenuous exercises, causing blood to flow into the airways.
- The study aimed to identify specific changes in vein walls, collagen and haemosiderin accumulation, and study the vascular profiles in the pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) in horses diagnosed with EIPH.
Methods
- Morphometric methods were used to analyze the lung structure and count pleural vascular profiles in five EIPH-affected and two control horses.
- These methods allowed researchers to detail the distribution and accumulation of both collagen and haemosiderin, two elements linked to fibrosis (scarring) and haemosiderosis (excess iron storage), respectively.
Results
- The results revealed that the thickness of the vein walls was greatest in the dorsocaudal (rear upper) section of the lung, and this correlated significantly with haemosiderin accumulation.
- Additionally, the accumulation of collagen, lung haemosiderin and pleural vascular profiles, as well as changes in vein thickness, were exclusively noted in the caudodorsal part of the lung.
- It was also found that haemosiderin accumulation corresponded with a decrease in the size of the pulmonary vein lumen (the inside space of a tubular structure).
Conclusions
- The colocalization of these changes suggests that regional venous remodelling plays a significant part in the pathogenesis (disease development) of EIPH in horses.
- The findings support the theory that repeated episodes of venous hypertension (high blood pressure) during vigorous exercise lead to remodelling of the vein walls and collagen accumulation, leading to vein occlusion, capillary hypertension and, eventually, lung fibrosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Derksen FJ, Williams KJ, Pannirselvam RR, de Feijter-Rupp H, Steel CM, Robinson NE.
(2009).
Regional distribution of collagen and haemosiderin in the lungs of horses with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
Equine Vet J, 41(6), 586-591.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x429419 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Collagen / metabolism
- Hemorrhage / etiology
- Hemorrhage / pathology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Hemosiderin / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lung / blood supply
- Lung / metabolism
- Lung Diseases / etiology
- Lung Diseases / pathology
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
- Pulmonary Veins / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Mahalingam-Dhingra A, Bedenice D, Mazan MR. Bronchoalveolar lavage hemosiderosis in lightly active or sedentary horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1243-1249.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Alberti E, Stancari G, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. The Role of Thoracic Ultrasonography and Airway Endoscopy in the Diagnosis of Equine Asthma and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage. Vet Sci 2021 Nov 15;8(11).
- Blott S, Cunningham H, Malkowski L, Brown A, Rauch C. A Mechanogenetic Model of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage in the Thoroughbred Horse. Genes (Basel) 2019 Nov 1;10(11).
- Poole DC, Erickson HH. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: where are we now?. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:133-148.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
- Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):743-58.
- Bozzola C, Sala G, Stancari G, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Airway Inflammation in Racehorses Affected by Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 5;15(17).
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
