Synovial nerve fiber density decreases with naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in horses.
Abstract: To measure the nerve fiber density in synovial membranes from healthy and OA equine joints and to investigate the relationship between synovial innervation and OA severity, synovial vascularity and synovitis. Twenty-five equine metacarpophalangeal joints were collected post-mortem. The joints were dissected and the macroscopic lesions of the articular cartilage were scored. Synovial membrane specimens (n = 50) were harvested, fixed, sectioned and scored histologically. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence with S-100 protein, that identifies nerve fibers, and ⍺-actin, that stains vascular smooth muscle, were also performed on site-matched specimens and the relationships between these tissues was interrogated. The nerve fiber density was higher in the superficial layer (≤200 μm) of the synovium when compared to the deeper layer in control equine joints (mean difference (95% C.I.): 0.054% (0.018%, 0.11%)). In osteoarthritic joints, synovial innervation decreased in the superficial layer with increasing macroscopic OA score (β (SEM), 95% C.I.: -0.0061 (0.00021), -0.0011, -0.00017). The blood vessel density was also higher in the superficial layer of the synovium compared to the deep layer in the control (mean difference (95% C.I.): 1.1% (0.36%, 2.3%)) and OA (mean difference (95% C.I.): 0.60% (0.22%, 1.2%)) equine joints. Moreover, considering all synovial specimens, higher nerve fiber density in the deep layer positively correlated with blood vessel density (β (SEM), 95% C.I.: 0.11 (0.036), 0.035, 0.18). The reduction in nerve fiber density with advanced cartilage degeneration suggests that peripheral neuropathy is associated with equine OA. Whether this link is associated with neuropathic pain, requires further investigation.
Copyright © 2018 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-06-26 PubMed ID: 29958917DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.06.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article details a study conducted on horses that explores the relationship between the density of nerve fibers in synovial membranes and the severity of naturally-occurring osteoarthritis (OA). It was found that nerve fiber density decreased with increasing OA severity, which may suggest that peripheral neuropathy is linked to equine OA.
Objective and Methodology
- The main objective of this study was to measure the density of nerve fibers in the synovial membranes from both healthy and osteoarthritic equine joints, and to explore the relationships among synovial innervation, the severity of OA, synovial vascularity and synovitis.
- The researchers collected twenty-five equine metacarpophalangeal joints post-mortem for this experiment. They dissected these joints and scored the macroscopic lesions of the articular cartilage.
- A total of 50 synovial membrane specimens were harvested, fixed and sectioned for histological scoring. They were also stained immunohistochemically and by immunofluorescence for the identification of nerve fibers and vascular smooth muscle.
Results
- The results indicated that the nerve fiber density was higher in the superficial layer of the synovium in control equine joints, compared to the deeper layer.
- However, in osteoarthritic joints, synovial innervation decreased in the superficial layer with an increasing macroscopic OA score. This indicates a correlation between OA severity and the reduction in nerve fiber density.
- The density of blood vessels was also found to be higher in the superficial layer of the synovium compared to the deep layer in both control and OA equine joints.
- Additionally, looking at all the synovial specimens, a higher nerve fiber density in the deep layer positively correlated with blood vessel density.
Conclusion and Further Studies
- Based on this study, the researchers concluded that the decrease in nerve fiber density with advanced cartilage degeneration suggests an association between peripheral neuropathy and equine OA.
- However, the study wasn’t able to conclude if the observed link is associated with neuropathic pain. The researchers suggest that this aspect requires further investigation.
Cite This Article
APA
Pujol R, Girard CA, Richard H, Hassanpour I, Binette MP, Beauchamp G, McDougall JJ, Laverty S.
(2018).
Synovial nerve fiber density decreases with naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in horses.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 26(10), 1379-1388.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2018.06.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada.
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada. Electronic address: sheila.laverty@umontreal.ca.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Nerve Fibers / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Synovial Membrane / innervation
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