Microdialysis measurements of equine lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism in response to physical and pharmacological manipulations of blood flow.

Reasons For Performing Study: A suitable method for evaluating lamellar perfusion changes and their metabolic consequences is currently lacking.

Objectives: To examine perfusion changes in lamellar tissue using serial microdialysis measurements of urea clearance and energy metabolites.

Study Design: Randomised, controlled (within subject) experimental trial.

Microdialysis measurements of lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism during the development of laminitis in the oligofructose model.

Reasons For Performing Study: Failure of lamellar energy metabolism, with or without ischaemia, may be important in the pathophysiology of sepsis-associated laminitis.

Objectives: To examine lamellar perfusion and energy balance during laminitis development in the oligofructose model using tissue microdialysis.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

The effect of weightbearing and limb load cycling on equine lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism measured using tissue microdialysis.

Reasons For Performing Study: Lamellar perfusion is thought to be affected by weightbearing and limb load cycling; this may be critical in the development of supporting limb laminitis.

Objectives: To document the effects of unilateral weightbearing and altered limb load cycling on lamellar energy metabolism and perfusion.

Study Design: Randomised, controlled (within subject), experimental trial.

Equine lamellar energy metabolism studied using tissue microdialysis.

Failure of lamellar energy metabolism may contribute to the pathophysiology of equine laminitis. Tissue microdialysis has the potential to dynamically monitor lamellar energy balance over time. The objectives of this study were to develop a minimally invasive lamellar microdialysis technique and use it to measure normal lamellar energy metabolite concentrations over 24 h.