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Gruber N, Gesell-May S, Scholler D, Zablotski Y, May A. Evaluation of substance P as a biomarker for pain in equine colic. J Equine Vet Sci 2024; 132:104979. [PMID: 38072227 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Equine colic is an important condition associated with acute abdominal pain and one of the leading causes of death in horses. As such, objectively evaluating pain is of interest for attending veterinarians. Pain scales for assessment are present, but no single pain-specific biomarker has been reported. The aim of this study was to determine if substance P (SP) could be a reliable biomarker to reflect pain and serve as a parameter to predict outcome in equine colic. The hypothesis was that horses displaying severe colic signs present with higher values of SP in contrast to those with mild colic signs. Thirty warmblood horses, aged between 3 and 20 years were recruited; evenly distributed (10 horses each) in three colic groups (mild, moderate, severe). To classify the colic signs, the horses were graded by the Equine Acute Abdominal Pain Scale (EAAPS). Clinical examination and EAAPS were performed at arrival in the hospital. Blood samples were collected four times in hourly intervals commencing from arrival. For comparison, already established parameters for prognosticating equine colic (heart rate, serum cortisol, and blood lactate concentration) were also measured. The assumption of increasing SP concentrations along with pain could not be confirmed. SP did not show any association with heart rate, cortisol, lactate, or EAAPS. Whereas the established parameters increased according to the EAAPS, SP remained stable in individual horses regardless of clinical signs, treatment, and disease progression. Consequently, SP was not a reliable parameter to reflect painful conditions or to predict outcome in equine colic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gruber
- Equine Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Sonnenstrasse 14, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | | | - Dominik Scholler
- Equine Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Sonnenstrasse 14, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Yury Zablotski
- Clinic for Ruminants, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Sonnenstrasse 13, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Anna May
- Equine Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Sonnenstrasse 14, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
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Scholler D, Zablotski Y, May A. Evaluation of Substance P as a New Stress Parameter in Horses in a Stress Model Involving Four Different Stress Levels. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071142. [PMID: 37048398 PMCID: PMC10093602 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress has a significant impact on equine welfare. There are some studies on the stress response in horses ridden with tight nosebands, but little is known about other stress parameters than cortisol, which potentially could address an emotional component. In this study, blood samples of a total of 74 warmblood horses were used to establish reference values for plasma substance P (SP) concentrations. Moreover, 16 of these warmblood horses were included in a stress model. Four different stress levels (level 1: horses ridden with loose noseband, level 2: tight noseband, level 3: loose noseband and overground endoscope, level 4: tight noseband and overground endoscope) were applied to evaluate SP as a potential stress parameter in horses. Blood samples were taken at rest (t0) and directly after inducing stress (noseband tightening, insertion of endoscope; t1), as well as after 20 min of riding at all gaits (t2). A ridden horse ethogram was applied and showed that horses in the tight noseband group resorted to other stress-related behavioral issues than horses with loose nosebands. Serum cortisol showed a linear increase concurrent with the increase in stress levels with a significant difference between level 1 and level 4 (p = 0.043), proving that stress factors were adequate to evaluate the stress response, whereas SP did not show a correlation with the stress levels. Furthermore, concentrations of SP differed widely between horses but stayed within more narrow limits in the individual horse. As a conclusion, SP might not be a reliable stress parameter in horses in the applied minor stress model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Scholler
- Equine Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Yury Zablotski
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Anna May
- Equine Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
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Giancola F, Rambaldi AM, Bianco F, Iusco S, Romagnoli N, Tagliavia C, Bombardi C, Clavenzani P, De Giorgio R, Chiocchetti R. Localization of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor in equine enteric neurons and extrinsic sensory fibers. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017; 29. [PMID: 28256032 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonin plays a pivotal role in regulating gut motility, visceral sensitivity, and fluid secretion via specific receptors. Among these receptors, 5-HT4 exerts a prominent control on gut motor function. Although the prokinetic effect exerted by 5-HT4 agonists is well known, the cellular sites of 5-HT4 expression remain poorly understood in large mammals, e.g., horses. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of 5-HT4 in the horse intestine and in foals with enteric aganglionosis, reminiscent of human Hirschsprung's disease. METHODS The intestine and spinal ganglia were obtained from three healthy horses and two foals with hereditary ileocolonic aganglionosis. Tissues were processed for immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody to 5-HT4 and a variety of neuronal markers. Myenteric and submucosal plexus 5-HT4 -immunoreactive (IR) neurons were quantified as relative percentage (mean±SD) to the total number of neurons counted. Furthermore, the density of 5-HT4 -IR nerve fibers was evaluated in the mucosa and tunica muscularis. KEY RESULTS The 5-HT4 immunoreactivity was localized to large percentages of myenteric neurons ranging from 28±9% (descending colon) to 63±19% (ileum), and submucosal neurons ranging from 54±6% (ileum) to 68±14% (duodenum). The 5-HT4 -immunoreactivity was co-expressed by some substance P-IR (SP-IR) spinal ganglion neurons and extrinsic sensory fibers of aganglionic foals. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES The presence of 5-HT4 in many enteric and extrinsic sensory neurons and nerve fibers provides solid morphological evidence of the cellular sites of 5-HT4 expression in horses. The evidence of SP-IR sensory neurons positive for 5-HT4 suggests its role in visceral sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Giancola
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A M Rambaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Bianco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Iusco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - N Romagnoli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Tagliavia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Bombardi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - P Clavenzani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - R De Giorgio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - R Chiocchetti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Lefebvre RA, Callens C, Van Colen I, Delesalle CJG. The 5-HT 4 receptor agonist prucalopride does not facilitate cholinergic neurotransmission in circular and longitudinal smooth muscle preparations of equine mid-jejunum. Res Vet Sci 2017; 114:153-162. [PMID: 28419939 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postoperative ileus (POI) remains an important cause of death in horses. The recently developed selective 5-HT4 receptor agonists such as prucalopride target 5-HT4 receptors on myenteric cholinergic neurons to enhance acetylcholine release and GI motility. No clearcut in vitro evaluation whether highly selective 5-HT4 receptor agonists enhance submaximal cholinergic neurotransmission towards the muscle layer has been performed in horses. OBJECTIVES To identify functional 5-HT4 receptors in equine jejunum. STUDY DESIGN In vitro experimental study. METHODS Circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips (mid-jejunum) were mounted in organ baths between 2 platinum electrodes allowing electrical field stimulation (EFS). To delineate the conditions to obtain purely cholinergic responses, voltage-response curves were studied. To investigate the influence of prucalopride and 5-HT, submaximal cholinergic contractions at a single voltage were induced. RESULTS In circular and longitudinal strips, EFS induced voltage-dependent neurogenic on-contractions when the bathing medium contained a NO-synthesis inhibitor and apamin to prevent inhibitory responses to NO and ATP. Contractions at a voltage inducing 50% of maximal amplitude were cholinergic, as they were blocked by atropine. These contractions were not influenced by prucalopride (up to 3μM), even in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutyl-methyl-xanthine to inhibit breakdown of the second messenger of 5-HT4 receptors, cAMP. Also the full 5-HT4 receptor agonist 5-HT did not influence the EFS-induced submaximal cholinergic contractions. Moreover, prucalopride did not influence muscle tone continuously enhanced with KCl. CONCLUSIONS There are no functional 5-HT4 receptors on myenteric cholinergic neurons nor muscular 5-HT4 receptors in equine jejunum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Adelin Lefebvre
- Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Chana Callens
- Department of Industrial Biological Sciences-Kortrijk, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Inge Van Colen
- Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Catherine John Ghislaine Delesalle
- Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Intrinsic innervation of the ileocaecal junction in the horse: Preliminary study. Equine Vet J 2010; 41:759-64. [DOI: 10.2746/042516409x407594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Chiocchetti R, Bombardi C, Mongardi-Fantaguzzi C, Venturelli E, Russo D, Spadari A, Montoneri C, Romagnoli N, Grandis A. Intrinsic innervation of the horse ileum. Res Vet Sci 2009; 87:177-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2008] [Revised: 12/10/2008] [Accepted: 03/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Solinger N, Sonea IM. Distribution of the neurokinin-1 receptor in equine intestinal smooth muscle. Equine Vet J 2008; 40:321-5. [PMID: 18267878 DOI: 10.2746/042516408x278184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY Tachykinins have profound effects on equine intestinal motility, but the distribution of the neurokinin receptors (NKRs) through which they act is unknown. This study reports the distribution of one of these receptors, the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), in smooth muscle throughout the equine intestinal tract. OBJECTIVES To quantify the distribution of the NK1R, based upon mRNA expression, in smooth muscle of different regions of the equine intestinal tract. METHODS Nine regions of the intestinal tract were sampled in 5 mature horses. Total RNA was isolated from smooth muscle and reverse transcribed; NK1R mRNA was then quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS NK1R mRNA was found at all levels of the sampled intestinal tract. The smooth muscle of the proximal small intestine and the ventral colon exhibited the highest level of NK1R mRNA expression in the equine intestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS Tachykinins probably affect intestinal contractility and propulsion in the proximal small intestine and in the ventral colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Solinger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Katz LM, Marr CM, Elliott J. Characterisation of the response of equine digital arteries and veins to substance P. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2004; 26:361-8. [PMID: 14633189 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2885.2003.00491.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Substance P (SP), a potent vasodilator, has been detected in equine digital sensory-motor nerves. The aim of the study was to characterise the functional responses of equine digital blood vessels to exogenous SP. Pre-constricted equine digital arteries (EDA) and veins (EDV) vasodilated in a biphasic, endothelium- and concentration-dependent manner to SP. A nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 300 microm) inhibited both phases of the relaxation response curve of EDAs to SP by >70%. In EDVs, the first relaxant phase to SP was largely L-NAME-resistant, whereas the second phase was inhibited by 60%. Both L-NAME and a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (ibuprofen; 10 microm) were required to inhibit EDV relaxation to SP by > or =80%. Experiments determining the receptor mediated responses to physiological concentrations of SP (1 nm) revealed that the relaxant responses of both EDA and EDV were inhibited by a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist (CP-96 345; 10 nm). In conclusion, SP is an endothelium-dependent vasodilator of both EDA and EDV. NO is the predominant pathway activated in EDA, whereas both prostacyclin and NO pathways are involved in EDVs. NK1 receptors appear to mediate responses to low concentrations of SP.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Katz
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
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