title: Determination of total protein concentration and viscosity of synovial fluid from the tibiotarsal joints of horses.
abstract: Viscosity of synovial fluid (SF) from 29 clinically normal horses was determined by use of a rotational cone and plate microviscosimeter. Total protein concentration in the SF of the 29 horses, as measured with a refractometer, was less than 2.5 g/dl. When the Coomassie brilliant blue test was used to determine total protein concentration in SF for 15 horses, the mean value was 1,088 mg/dl. Viscosity values at 60, 30, 12, 6, 3, and 1.5 revolutions/min (rpm) spindle speed were 4.41 +/- 1.54 centipoise (cp), 5.29 +/- 1.94 cp, 6.76 +/- 2.76 cp, 8.52 +/- 4.27 cp. 10.41 +/- 6.30 cp, and 13.07 +/- 9.05 cp, respectively. Synovial fluid viscosity increased with decreasing rpm and shear rate, but the shape of the curve for each horse fitted the asymptotic curve. The rotational cone and plate microviscosimeter was an accurate instrument in measuring SF viscosity at multiple rpm or shear rates in horses. The values obtained on clinically normal horses in this study will serve as a baseline for comparison in the evaluation of horses with joint disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rural Practice, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901-1071.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Korenek
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maddux
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Faulk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins