Single photon absorptiometry for the measurement of bone mineral content in horses.
Abstract: A safe, non-invasive method for the accurate measurement of bone mineral content in the third metacarpal bone of the horse is described. The technique involves scanning the bone with a single photon beam from an Americium-241 source. Data were obtained from the excised metacarpal bones from both forelimbs of 50 normal and seven lame horses. Measurements were made in vivo on eight normal and seven lame horses and on one experimental horse with osteopenia induced by partial weightlessness in a flotation tank. In the normal horses bone mineral content altered with age, particularly in the first six months of life. There were also differences according to the site of scanning on the metacarpus. The contribution of the splint bones to the total bone mineral content was less than 2 per cent distal to the mid-point of the metacarpus, but in the proximal shaft it increased to 12 per cent. No significant differences were noted either between right and left limbs, or between male and female animals. A reduction in bone mineral content was demonstrated in the affected leg of horses with chronic lameness and with osteopenia induced by weightlessness. The bone mineral content (g/cm) correlated well with the ash content (mg/100 mg dry bone weight), the specific gravity and the apparent transverse velocity of ultrasound (m/sec) through the bone. A measure of bone mineral density (g/cm3) was calculated from the bone mineral content and cross sectional area of the bone to overcome the individual differences in size of the metacarpus.
Publication Date: 1986-05-03 PubMed ID: 3716134DOI: 10.1136/vr.118.18.499Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research study introduces a non-invasive, safe method for accurately measuring the bone mineral content in a horse’s third metacarpal bone. The method uses a single photon beam from an Americium-241 source for scanning. The study also examines the differences in bone mineral content due to age, location on the metacarpus, and in response to conditions such as chronic lameness and induced osteopenia.
Methodology
- The researchers utilized a safe, non-invasive technique that involved scanning a horse’s third metacarpal bone with a single photon beam sourced from Americium-241.
- They performed the procedure on the excised metacarpal bones from both forelimbs of 50 normal horses and seven horses suffering from lameness.
- In vivo measurements were executed on eight normal horses and seven lame horses. Additionally, the method was applied to one horse with osteopenia, a condition induced by partial weightlessness in a flotation tank.
Findings
- In normal horses, the bone mineral content was found to change with age, especially in the first six months of life.
- The data also displayed differences based on the exact location of the scanning on the metacarpus, the third long bone in the limb of a horse.
- The researchers observed that the splint bones contribute less than 2% to the total bone mineral content at points below the metacarpus midpoint, however, this contribution increases to 12% in the proximal shaft.
- No significant disparities were noted regarding the right and left limbs, or between male and female animals.
Significance of the Findings
- Chronic lameness and weightlessness-induced osteopenia led to a discernible decrease in bone mineral content in the affected leg of horses.
- Legitimacy of the bone mineral content measurement method was established as it correlated well with the ash content, specific gravity, and apparent transverse velocity of ultrasound through the bone.
- To account for individual differences in size of the metacarpus, a measure of bone mineral density was calculated using the bone mineral content and the cross-sectional area of the bone.
Cite This Article
APA
Jeffcott LB, McCartney RN, Speirs VC.
(1986).
Single photon absorptiometry for the measurement of bone mineral content in horses.
Vet Rec, 118(18), 499-505.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.118.18.499 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpus / diagnostic imaging
- Minerals / metabolism
- Physical Exertion
- Radionuclide Imaging
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- McCartney RN, Jeffcott LB. Combined 2.25 MHz ultrasound velocity and bone mineral density measurements in the equine metacarpus and their in vivo applications.. Med Biol Eng Comput 1987 Nov;25(6):620-6.
- Buckingham SH, Jeffcott LB, Anderson GA, McCartney RN. In vivo measurement of bone quality in the horse: estimates of precision for ultrasound velocity measurement and single photon absorptiometry.. Med Biol Eng Comput 1992 Jan;30(1):41-5.
- Lepage OM, Marcoux M, Tremblay A, Dumas G. Sex does not influence serum osteocalcin levels in standardbred horses of different ages.. Can J Vet Res 1992 Oct;56(4):379-81.
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