FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The action of low dose endotoxin on equine bowel motility.
Equine veterinary journal1991; 23(1); 11-17; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02705.x

The action of low dose endotoxin on equine bowel motility.

Abstract: Post operative ileus (POI) is a common and serious complication of colic surgery in the horse. There is a high correlation between the incidence of POI and the presence of ischaemic bowel, suggesting a role for endotoxin. 0.1 micrograms/kg endotoxin was administered intravenously to six ponies with chronically implanted gastrointestinal electromechanical recording devices. It produced profound disruption of normal fasting bowel motility patterns, with an inhibition of gastric contraction amplitude and rate, left dorsal colon contraction product and small colon spike rate. In the small intestine an increase in abnormally arranged regular activity and a decrease in irregular activity was observed. There was no significant prolongation in stomach to anus transit time as assessed by the passage of plastic spheres. The bowel motility patterns induced by endotoxin could be mimicked by the intravenous infusion of PGE2 and less potently by PGI2 (prostacyclin), but not by PGF2 alpha. This study provides evidence that systematic endotoxin present in clinical cases of colic may play a role in the pathogenesis of equine ileus. The acute effects of endotoxin on bowel motility appear to be mediated indirectly by prostaglandins, and the inhibitory effects may be mediated mainly by PGE2.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1991-01-01 PubMed ID: 2015801DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02705.xGoogle 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 study investigates how low doses of endotoxin impact the bowel movements in horses, specifically in postoperative ileus (POI) cases, a common complication after colic surgery. The research suggests that the presence of endotoxin and other substances like prostaglandins may be influential in causing disruptions in normal bowel activity.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The primary objective was to examine the effects of a low dose of endotoxin on the bowel motility of horses, particularly following colic surgery. The complication post-surgery is referred to as postoperative ileus (POI), where intestinal movement gets disrupted.
  • The researchers hypothesized a possible correlation between POI and the presence of an ischaemic bowel, believed to be influenced by endotoxins.
  • To test their hypothesis, they administered 0.1 micrograms/kg of intravenous endotoxin to six ponies equipped with gastrointestinal electromechanical recording devices.

Results and Findings

  • The introduction of endotoxin resulted in significant changes in the regular bowel motility patterns of the ponies, notably, a decrease in the amplitude and rate of gastric contractions, as well as disrupting activity in the colon and small intestine.
  • However, the endotoxins did not contribute to a significant prolongation in the stomach to anus transit time.
  • The study also examined whether certain substances, such as prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGI2), could emulate the effects of endotoxin on bowel motility. It was found that the impact of endotoxin could indeed be mimicked by PGE2, though less effective by PGI2 and not at all by PGF2 alpha.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The research provides evidence to suggest that endotoxins, which are often found in clinical cases of colic, could be involved in causing postoperative ileus in horses.
  • The study further suggests that the interaction between endotoxin and bowel motility is likely mediated by prostaglandins, specifically PGE2, which also seem to have an inhibitory effect.

Cite This Article

APA
King JN, Gerring EL. (1991). The action of low dose endotoxin on equine bowel motility. Equine Vet J, 23(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02705.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Pages: 11-17

Researcher Affiliations

King, J N
  • Department of Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, England.
Gerring, E L

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Dinoprost / pharmacology
    • Dinoprostone / pharmacology
    • Electrodes, Implanted / veterinary
    • Endotoxins / pharmacology
    • Epoprostenol / pharmacology
    • Gastrointestinal Motility / drug effects
    • Horses / physiology
    • Intestine, Large / drug effects
    • Intestine, Large / physiology
    • Intestine, Small / drug effects
    • Intestine, Small / physiology
    • Stomach / drug effects
    • Stomach / physiology
    • Transducers / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 9 times.
    1. Tachibana T, Ogino M, Makino R, Khan MS, Cline MA. Lipopolysaccharide reduces food passage rate from the crop by a prostaglandin-independent mechanism in chickens. Br Poult Sci 2017 Feb;58(1):100-106.
      doi: 10.1080/00071668.2016.1237768pubmed: 27871194google scholar: lookup
    2. De Winter BY, De Man JG. Interplay between inflammation, immune system and neuronal pathways: effect on gastrointestinal motility. World J Gastroenterol 2010 Nov 28;16(44):5523-35.
      doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i44.5523pubmed: 21105185google scholar: lookup
    3. Koenig J, Cote N. Equine gastrointestinal motility--ileus and pharmacological modification. Can Vet J 2006 Jun;47(6):551-9.
      pubmed: 16808227
    4. Meisler SD, Doherty TJ, Andrews FM, Osborne D, Frazier DL. Yohimbine ameliorates the effects of endotoxin on gastric emptying of the liquid marker acetaminophen in horses. Can J Vet Res 2000 Oct;64(4):208-11.
      pubmed: 11041497
    5. Doherty TJ, Andrews FM, Abraha TW, Osborne D, Frazier DL. Metoclopramide ameliorates the effects of endotoxin on gastric emptying of acetaminophen in horses. Can J Vet Res 1999 Jan;63(1):37-40.
      pubmed: 9918332
    6. Valk N, Doherty TJ, Blackford JT, Abraha TW, Frazier DL. Phenylbutazone prevents the endotoxin-induced delay in gastric emptying in horses. Can J Vet Res 1998 Jul;62(3):214-7.
      pubmed: 9684051
    7. Hellström PM, al-Saffar A, Ljung T, Theodorsson E. Endotoxin actions on myoelectric activity, transit, and neuropeptides in the gut. Role of nitric oxide. Dig Dis Sci 1997 Aug;42(8):1640-51.
      doi: 10.1023/a:1018897028463pubmed: 9286229google scholar: lookup
    8. Navarre CB, Roussel AJ. Gastrointestinal motility and disease in large animals. J Vet Intern Med 1996 Mar-Apr;10(2):51-9.
      doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1996.tb02027.xpubmed: 8683480google scholar: lookup
    9. Cavalleri M, Sciascia QL, Görs S, Vernunft A, Reyer H, Wimmers K, Zentek J, Kluess J, Dänicke S, Metges CC. Measurement of Oro-Cecal Transit Time in LPS-Treated Pigs Fed High and Low Fiber Diets Using the Lactose-(13)C-Ureide Test in Breath and Saliva Samples. J Agric Food Chem 2025 Apr 30;73(17):10304-10315.
      doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00534pubmed: 40234424google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.