The effects of phenylbutazone on the intestinal mucosa of the horse: a morphological, ultrastructural and biochemical study.
Abstract: Phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug known to produce intestinal erosions, was administered intravenously (13.46 mg/kg bodyweight) to 12 horses which were killed after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Eight untreated horses served as controls. Annular erosions in the duodenum and mucosal necrosis in the colon were seen after 48 h which progressed in severity. The erosions were characterised by sloughing of the surface epithelium, subepithelial cleft and bleb formation, necrosis of the lamina propria, degeneration of the walls of subsurface capillaries and microthrombosis. Large numbers of neutrophils with abundant fibrin and cellular debris were present at the erosion sites. Ultrastructurally, there was swelling of the endothelium of capillaries and small vessels, and of pericyte and smooth muscle cytoplasm in arterioles. In capillaries and post capillary venules, the endothelium ranged from swollen to lysed and necrotic. Extensive extravasation of erythrocytes and oedema were seen. These lesions were not seen in the control horses. Phenylbutazone produces a microvascular injury associated with the formation of duodenal and colonic erosions in horses. The duodenal and colonic mucosa were assayed at 48 and 96 h for prostacyclin and PGE2. There was no statistically significant difference between prostaglandin levels in the mucosa of control and treated horses. It was concluded that there was no correlation between mucosal prostaglandin levels and intestinal erosions after 48 h.
Publication Date: 1990-07-01 PubMed ID: 2209522DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04264.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the effects of Phenylbutazone, an anti-inflammatory drug, on the intestinal lining in horses, revealing that the drug can cause gastrointestinal damage exhibited by intestinal erosions and mucosal necrosis.
Details of the Study
- The researchers administered Phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), to 12 horses to study the impact of the drug. Phenylbutazone is recognized for causing gastrointestinal erosions.
- The drug dosage was set at 13.46 mg/kg body weight, intravenously. The horses were euthanized at different stages post-administration: 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours.
- A control group composed of eight untreated horses was maintained for comparison.
Research Findings
- Observations revealed annular erosions in the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) and mucosal necrosis in the colon after 48 hours of drug administration. These conditions escalated over time.
- Specific characteristics of the erosions included sloughing (shedding) of the surface epithelium, formation of subepithelial clefts and blebs, degeneration of the lamina propria (a layer of connective tissue), and distortion of the walls of subsurface capillaries, leading to microthrombosis.
- At the erosion sites, numerous neutrophils, together with abundant fibrin and cellular debris, were observed.
- On the ultrastructural level, there was swelling of the endothelium of capillaries and small blood vessels, and the cytoplasm in arterioles. Changes in capillaries and post capillary venules included swollen to lysed and necrotic endothelium. Signs of extensive erythrocytes extravasation and edema were also notable.
- These effects from Phenylbutazone were not seen in the control group horses, confirming the drug’s role in causing these lesions.
- The researchers coined the term “microvascular injury” to describe the combined damage observed in the horse’s duodenum and colon after Phenylbutazone treatment.
Further Analysis
- To gain more insight, prostacyclin and PGE2 levels in the duodenal and colonic mucosa were analyzed at 48 and 96 hours.
- A comparison between control and treated horses revealed no statistically significant difference in prostaglandin levels in the mucosa.
- From these findings, it was concluded that there was no correlation between mucosal prostaglandin levels and the occurrence of intestinal erosions in the treated horses after 48 hours.
Cite This Article
APA
Meschter CL, Gilbert M, Krook L, Maylin G, Corradino R.
(1990).
The effects of phenylbutazone on the intestinal mucosa of the horse: a morphological, ultrastructural and biochemical study.
Equine Vet J, 22(4), 255-263.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04264.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology and Equine Drug Testing and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colon / chemistry
- Colon / drug effects
- Colon / ultrastructure
- Dinoprostone / analysis
- Duodenum / chemistry
- Duodenum / drug effects
- Duodenum / ultrastructure
- Epoprostenol / analysis
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Intestinal Mucosa / chemistry
- Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
- Intestinal Mucosa / ultrastructure
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron
- Phenylbutazone / toxicity
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Vivancos M, Barker J, Engbers S, Fischer C, Frederick J, Friedt H, Rybicka JM, Stastny T, Banse H, Cribb AE. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 meloxicam oral dosage formulations in healthy adult horses. Can Vet J 2015 Jul;56(7):730-6.
- Galvin N, Dillon H, McGovern F. Right dorsal colitis in the horse: minireview and reports on three cases in Ireland. Ir Vet J 2004 Aug 1;57(8):467-73.
- Mozaffari AA, Derakhshanfar A. Evaluation of the brain, renal, and hepatic effects of flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and phenylbutazone administration in Iranian fat-tailed sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011 Oct;43(7):1389-93.
- McCarthy CJ, Sweeney E, O'Morain C. Early ultrastructural changes of antral mucosa with aspirin in the absence of Helicobacter pylori. J Clin Pathol 1995 Nov;48(11):994-7.
- Tesena P, Vinijkumthorn R, Preuksathaporn T, Piyakul P, Chotikaprakal T, Sirireugwipas R, Wong-Aree K, Prapaiwan N. Evaluation of gastrointestinal tract lesions and serum malondialdehyde levels after repeated oral administration of phenylbutazone in horses. Vet Res Commun 2024 Aug;48(4):2343-2355.
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