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The effect of recombinant equine growth hormone on the biomechanical properties of healing superficial digital flexor tendons in horses.
Abstract: To evaluate the effect of recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) on the in vitro biomechanical properties of healing superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in horses. Methods: Completely randomized design. Methods: Twelve Standardbred horses, 3 to 7 years of age, with ultrasonographically normal forelimb SDFT. Methods: One week after induction of collagenase (2,000 U) induced superficial flexor tendonitis, horses were randomly divided into groups of 6. One group was administered intramuscular rEGH (10 microg/kg/day for 1 week, then 20 microg/kg/day for 5 weeks), whereas the other group (control subjects) were administered an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. At the end of this 6-week treatment, horses were killed and one forelimb SDFT from each horse was harvested for biomechanical testing under uniaxial tension. Results were analyzed using an unpaired Student's t test; significance was set at P <or=.05. Results: SDFT from horses treated with rEGH had significantly larger mean cross-sectional areas and lower mean values for ultimate and yield tensile stress, whereas tendons from the control group were biomechanically stiffer than those from the rEGH-treated horses. Conclusions: Administration of rEGH to horses for 6 weeks, 1 week after collagenase induced injury to the SDFT, resulted in a significant increase in tendon cross-sectional area, a concomitant reduction in ultimate and yield tensile stress, and reduced tendon stiffness. Conclusions: Using this model of tendonitis, rEGH had a negative effect on the biomechanical properties of equine SDFT in the early phases of healing. Based on our results, administration of rEGH to treat superficial flexor tendonitis cannot be recommended.
Copyright 2002 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Publication Date: 2002-07-03 PubMed ID: 12094345DOI: 10.1053/jvet.2002.33590Google 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.
- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article explores how a hormone called recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) impacts the healing properties of a type of tendon in horses, specifically the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). The results showed the hormone caused increased cross-sectional area of the tendon and reduced its strength and stiffness, thus negatively affecting the tendon’s healing process.
Methodology of the Study
- A total of 12 Standardbred horses, aged between 3 to 7 years, with normally functioning forelimb SDFTs were included.
- A condition similar to tendonitis was artificially induced in all horses using collagenase.
- The subjects were then divided into two groups. One group was given rEGH injections, while the other received equivalent amounts of saline solution, functioning as the control group.
- The rEGH was given at a dose of 10 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day for the first week, and then 20 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day for five weeks.
- After the six-week treatment period, the horses were euthanized and one forelimb SDFT from each horse was used for biomechanical testing under tension.
- The test results were analyzed using an unpaired Student’s t-test, with significance set to P ≤ .05.
Results of the Study
- Compared to the control group, the means cross-sectional area of SDFTs in horses treated with rEGH was significantly larger.
- Tendons from the rEGH-treated horses had lower mean values for ultimate and yield tensile stress, meaning they had less ability to resist tension than tendons from the control group.
- Conversely, the control group’s tendons were biomechanically stiffer than those treated with rEGH.
Conclusions and Implications
- Administering rEGH to horses a week after collagenase-induced injury led to an increase in tendon cross-sectional area, a reduction in ultimate and yield tensile stress, and reduced tendon stiffness.
- In the early phases of healing, rEGH negatively affected the biomechanical properties of the SDFT.
- Therefore, based on the results of this study, the use of rEGH to treat superficial flexor tendonitis in horses is not recommended.
Cite This Article
APA
Dowling BA, Dart AJ, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Walsh WR.
(2002).
The effect of recombinant equine growth hormone on the biomechanical properties of healing superficial digital flexor tendons in horses.
Vet Surg, 31(4), 320-324.
https://doi.org/10.1053/jvet.2002.33590 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Veterinary Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Collagenases
- Female
- Forelimb
- Growth Hormone / administration & dosage
- Growth Hormone / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Injections, Intramuscular / veterinary
- Male
- Tendinopathy / drug therapy
- Tendinopathy / physiopathology
- Tendinopathy / veterinary
- Tendon Injuries / drug therapy
- Tendon Injuries / veterinary
- Tendons / drug effects
- Treatment Outcome
- Wound Healing / drug effects
- Wound Healing / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Khajeh A, Baniadam A, Oryan A, Ghadiri A, Naddaf H. Effectiveness of nuchal ligament autograft in the healing of an experimental superficial digital flexor tendon defect in equid. Vet Res Forum 2021 Winter;12(1):53-61.
- Citeroni MR, Ciardulli MC, Russo V, Della Porta G, Mauro A, El Khatib M, Di Mattia M, Galesso D, Barbera C, Forsyth NR, Maffulli N, Barboni B. In Vitro Innovation of Tendon Tissue Engineering Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Sep 14;21(18).
- Nightingale EJ, Allen CP, Sonnabend DH, Goldberg J, Walsh WR. Mechanical properties of the rotator cuff: response to cyclic loading at varying abduction angles. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2003 Nov;11(6):389-92.
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