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Equine veterinary journal2023; 55(5); 884-890; doi: 10.1111/evj.13907

Vitamin E depletion is associated with subclinical axonal degeneration in juvenile horses.

Abstract: Phosphorylated neurofilament heavy, a marker of neuroaxonal damage, is increased in horses with equine neuroaxonal dystrophy. However, the temporal dynamics of this biomarker during the post-natal risk period are not understood. Objective: To measure serum and cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations in juvenile foals across the post-natal window of susceptibility for equine neuroaxonal dystrophy. Methods: Case-control in vivo experimental study. Methods: Concentrations of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy were measured using frozen serum and cerebrospinal fluid collected from 13 foals raised in a vitamin E deficient environment from 1 to 6 months of age. Four of these foals were produced by equine neuroaxonal dystrophy-affected dams, developed clinical signs consistent with equine neuroaxonal dystrophy and had a diagnosis confirmed by histopathology. The remaining nine foals, produced by healthy mares, were vitamin E depleted and remained clinically healthy. An additional cohort of foals, produced by healthy mares, were supplemented with vitamin E (α-tocopherol; α-TOH) from birth and sampled similarly. Results: Serum α-TOH concentrations were significantly higher in vitamin E supplemented healthy foals. Serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. Cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations increased with age in healthy vitamin E depleted foals (p < 0.001); an effect that was not observed in healthy vitamin E supplemented foals. Conclusions: A genetically susceptible cohort supplemented with vitamin E was not available for comparison. Conclusions: We demonstrate that vitamin E depletion may elevate cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy in otherwise healthy juvenile foals by 6 months of age. We highlight an important cofactor to consider when interpreting cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations in juvenile horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-04 PubMed ID: 36516303PubMed Central: PMC10264549DOI: 10.1111/evj.13907Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 examines how vitamin E deficiency in young horses contributes to neurodegeneration, using phosphorylated neurofilament heavy as an indicator.

Study Objective

The main aim of the study was to understand the concentrations of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of young foals during the post-natal susceptibility phase for equine neuroaxonal dystrophy.

Study Methods

The researchers carried out a case-control experimental study in a live setting with 13 foals that were brought up in an environment deficient in vitamin E for six months. Out of these foals:

  • Four were foals from mothers affected by equine neuroaxonal dystrophy, developed clinical signs of the disease, and were diagnosed through histopathology.
  • Nine foals were born to healthy mares, had vitamin E deficiency but remained clinically healthy.

Additionally, a separate group of foals that were born to healthy mares were supplemented with vitamin E from birth for comparison.

Study Results

The results revealed that:

  • Foals supplemented with vitamin E (α-tocopherol; α-TOH) had significantly higher serum α-TOH concentrations than those with a deficiency.
  • No significant differences were observed in the serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations between the groups at any time point.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations increased with age in healthy foals with vitamin E deficiency, an effect not apparent in foals supplemented with vitamin E.
  • Susceptible foals supplemented with vitamin E were not available for comparison in the study.

Study Conclusion

The study concluded that vitamin E deficiency might raise the levels of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy in the cerebrospinal fluid of otherwise healthy juvenile foals by six months of age. The results underscore the importance of considering this cofactor when interpreting cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations in juvenile horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Donnelly CG, Finno CJ. (2023). Vitamin E depletion is associated with subclinical axonal degeneration in juvenile horses. Equine Vet J, 55(5), 884-890. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13907

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 5
Pages: 884-890

Researcher Affiliations

Donnelly, Callum G
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Finno, Carrie J
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Vitamin E
  • alpha-Tocopherol / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases
  • Vitamins

Grant Funding

  • K01 OD015134 / NIH HHS
  • L40 TR001136 / NCATS NIH HHS
  • K01OD015134 / NIH HHS
  • L40 TR001136 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors’ declarations of interests. No competing interests have been declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Chen M, Ghelfi M, Poon JF, Jeon N, Boccalon N, Rubsamen M, Valentino S, Mehta V, Stamper M, Tariq H, Zunica E, Ulatowski L, Chung S, Fritz C, Cameron M, Cameron C, Pratt DA, Atkinson J, Finno CJ, Manor D. Antioxidant-independent activities of alpha-tocopherol. J Biol Chem 2025 Apr;301(4):108327.
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  2. Palmisano M, Kulp J, Bender S, Stefanovski D, Robinson M, Johnson A. Measurement of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of horses with neuroaxonal degeneration and other causes of proprioceptive ataxia. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Mar-Apr;38(2):1207-1213.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16988pubmed: 38205913google scholar: lookup
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