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Home / Equine Research Bank / Experientia / The regulatory peptide system of the large bowel in equine g...
Experientia1984; 40(8); 801-806; doi: 10.1007/BF01951962

The regulatory peptide system of the large bowel in equine grass sickness.

Abstract: In recent years, distinct changes in regulatory peptides have been found in a number of gastrointestinal diseases. Grass sickness is a fatal disease of horses for which the etiology has yet to be fully ascertained. In this study, the peptide-containing nerves and ganglionic and mucosal endocrine cells of the ileum, colon and rectum were investigated in horses with sub-acute or chronic grass sickness and compared with normal controls using immunocytochemistry, at both the light and electron microscopical levels, and radioimmunoassay. A substantial loss of both peptide-containing cells and nerves was found in all of the sick horses, particularly in the ileum. Electron microscopy revealed marked degeneration of nerves in the gut wall. Fibers containing granules immunostained for substance P or VIP, using the immunogold staining technique, underwent extensive degranulation in grass sickness, with the formation of multiple vacuoles. Radioimmunoassay of peptide content also showed that the most drastic changes occurred in the ileum. For example, VIP content was significantly reduced from 109 +/- 19.8 (mean +/- SEM) pmoles/g in controls to 6.8 +/- 1.4 pmoles/g in grass sickness (p less than 0.001) and substance P from 65.9 +/- 8.1 to 31.3 +/- 9.5 (p less than 0.02). These results may have applications in the diagnosis and treatment of grass sickness.
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Publication Date: 1984-08-15 PubMed ID: 6205892DOI: 10.1007/BF01951962Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 research examines fluctuations in regulatory peptides in horses suffering from “Grass Sickness,” a fatal disease with unknown causes. The scientists found a significant decrease in peptide-containing cells and nerves, especially in the ileum, a part of the small intestine.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers investigated the peptide-containing nerves and endocrine cells of the ileum, colon, and rectum in horses with either sub-acute or chronic grass sickness.
  • Normal horses were used as control subjects for comparison. The tools used in this investigation were immunocytochemistry, for identifying cellular peptides at both light and electron microscopic levels, and radioimmunoassay, a sensitive technique for measuring the concentration of antigens.

Research Findings

  • The researchers noticed a significant reduction of both peptide-containing cells and nerves in all the sick horses, especially evident in the ileum.
  • On examining through an electron microscope, apparent nerve degeneration was seen in the gut wall of the sick horses.
  • Fibers that contained granules immunostained for Substance P or Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), two types of neuropeptides (protein-like molecules used by neurons to communicate), underwent significant degranulation in horses suffering from grass sickness. This resulted in the formation of multiple vacuoles or small cavity in the tissue.
  • Through radioimmunoassay, the researchers found the VIP content decreased significantly from 109 +/- 19.8 (mean +/- SEM) picomoles/gram in controls to just 6.8 +/- 1.4 picomoles/gram in grass sick horses (p less than 0.001), and for Substance P from 65.9 +/- 8.1 to 31.3 +/- 9.5 (p less than 0.02).

Implications of Research

  • The findings may be useful in diagnosing and treating grass sickness by using changes in regulatory peptides as a potential diagnostic indicator.
  • The significant changes in neuropeptide levels, especially in the ileum, points towards a neurological or neuropathic etiology of grass sickness, which may also lead to exploring new treatment plans targeting these affected neurons.

Cite This Article

APA
Bishop AE, Hodson NP, Major JH, Probert L, Yeats J, Edwards GB, Wright JA, Bloom SR, Polak JM. (1984). The regulatory peptide system of the large bowel in equine grass sickness. Experientia, 40(8), 801-806. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01951962

Publication

Experientia
ISSN: 0014-4754
NlmUniqueID: 0376547
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 40
Issue: 8
Pages: 801-806

Researcher Affiliations

Bishop, A E
    Hodson, N P
      Major, J H
        Probert, L
          Yeats, J
            Edwards, G B
              Wright, J A
                Bloom, S R
                  Polak, J M

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Digestive System / pathology
                    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / metabolism
                    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / pathology
                    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
                    • Histocytochemistry
                    • Horse Diseases / metabolism
                    • Horses
                    • Ileum / metabolism
                    • Intestine, Large / metabolism
                    • Microscopy, Electron
                    • Peptides / metabolism
                    • Substance P / metabolism
                    • Tissue Distribution
                    • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism

                    References

                    This article includes 13 references
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                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 2 times.
                    1. Murray A, Cottrell DF, Woodman MP. Cholinergic activity of intestinal muscle in vitro taken from horses with and without equine grass sickness.. Vet Res Commun 1994;18(3):199-207.
                      doi: 10.1007/BF01839269pubmed: 7985382google scholar: lookup
                    2. Pearson GT. Structural organization and neuropeptide distributions in the equine enteric nervous system: an immunohistochemical study using whole-mount preparations from the small intestine.. Cell Tissue Res 1994 Jun;276(3):523-34.
                      doi: 10.1007/BF00343949pubmed: 7520362google scholar: lookup
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