Identification of loci affecting sexually dimorphic patterns for height and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy risk in American Belgian Draft Horses.

Equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) is a bilateral mononeuropathy with an unknown etiology. In Thoroughbreds (TB), we previously demonstrated that the haplotype association for height (LCORL/NCAPG locus on ECA3, which affects body size) and RLN was coincident. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide association scan (GWAS) for RLN in 458 American Belgian Draft Horses, a breed fixed for the LCORL/NCAPG risk alelle.

Microvasculature of the suspensory ligament of the forelimb of horses.

Objective: To determine the microvascular anatomy of the suspensory ligament of the forelimb of horses.

Sample: 17 cadaveric forelimbs from 9 adult horses with no known history of forelimb lameness.

Procedures: The median artery of the forelimb was cannulated proximal to the antebrachiocarpal joint and injected with contrast medium for CT evaluation of the gross vasculature (n = 2) or India ink to evaluate the microvasculature (12).

Effects of exercise on markers of venous remodeling in lungs of horses.

Objective: To determine the effects of 2 weeks of intense exercise on expression of markers of pulmonary venous remodeling in the caudodorsal and cranioventral regions of the lungs of horses.

Animals: 6 horses.

Procedures: Tissue samples of the caudodorsal and cranioventral regions of lungs were obtained before and after conditioning and 2 weeks of intense exercise.

Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle: technique and safety in horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: Current diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) depends upon disease recognition in the clinically affected horse. Biopsy of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles may provide a method to identify the changes in fibre-type composition that occur in RLN before clinical signs become apparent.

Objective: To develop an ultrasound-guided biopsy technique of the left cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle (CALM) and evaluate its efficacy and safety in vivo.

Stifle extension results in differential tensile forces developing between abaxial and axial components of the cranial meniscotibial ligament of the equine medial meniscus: a mechanistic explanation for meniscal tear patterns.

Reason For Performing The Study: To identify potential functional-anatomical characteristics of the cranial horn attachment of the medial meniscus (MM) that may help explain the pathogenesis of the common tear patterns that have been reported.

Hypothesis: Full extension of the stifle generates a significant increase in tensile forces within the cranial meniscotibial ligament (CrMTL) of the MM, which may predispose this structure to injury.

Methods: The effect of femorotibial angle (160°, 150°, 140° and 130°) on tensile forces in the axial and abaxial components of the CrMTL was examined in 6 mature cadaver stifles using an implantable force probe.