Botulinum neurotoxin type A does not exert concentration-dependent effects on equine articular cartilage in vitro.

Objective: To determine whether Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) ameliorates the effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on equine articular cartilage, or exerts negative effects on normal equine articular cartilage homeostasis in vitro.

Sample: Articular cartilage explants from 6 healthy femoropatellar joints of 3 adult horses.

Methods: Explants were allocated to the IL-1 challenged or unchallenged group, then exposed to 1 of 6 concentrations of BoNT-A (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 500 pg/mL) for 96 hours.