Ex vivo effects of insulin on the structural integrity of equine digital lamellae
Abstract
Laminitis has a considerable impact on the equine industry. Endocrinopathic laminitis is the most common form and affected horses often have hyperinsulinaemia due to an underlying metabolic disorder. The aim of this study was to determine if insulin weakens the structural integrity of digital lamellae and to develop an ex vivo model for the study of hyperinsulinaemia-induced lamellar failure. Ex vivo experiment. Biomechanical testing was used to assess the structural integrity of lamellar explants exposed to either medium alone (control) or medium supplemented with insulin. Lamellar explants comprised of hoof wall, lamellar tissue and distal phalanx were harvested from four adult horses with no evidence of inflammatory disease or pre-existing disease of the digit. Following an equilibration period, explants were incubated in medium or medium supplemented with insulin (2.5 μg/ml) for 8 h prior to biomechanical testing to obtain load (N), stress (MPa), elongation to failure (mm), and Young's modulus (MPa) for each explant. Significant differences were assessed using a mixed linear model with horses as a random factor and control or insulin-treated group as a fixed factor. Lamellar explants incubated in medium supplemented with in...Continue Reading