Concentrations of trace minerals in the spinal cord of horses with equine motor neuron disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare concentrations of trace minerals in the spinal cord of horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) with those of horses without neurologic disease (control horses).


METHODS
24 horses with EMND and 22 control horses.


METHODS
Spinal cord trace mineral concentrations in horses with EMND and control horses were analyzed by use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, and chromium), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (lead and cadmium), flameless atomic absorption (mercury), and fluorometry (selenium).


RESULTS
Copper concentration was significantly higher in the spinal cord of horses with EMND, compared with control horses; spinal cord concentrations of all other trace minerals were similar between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Among spinal cord trace minerals investigated in the study, only copper concentrations were significantly different between horses with EMND and horses without neurologic disease, which suggests that copper may be involved in the pathogenesis of EMND. An hypothesis of oxidative injury in this disease is supported by the finding of increased copper concentrations in the spinal cord and by low vitamin E concentrations reported by other researchers.
Polack
E W
EW
Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
King
J M
JM
Cummings
J F
JF
Mohammed
H O
HO
Birch
M
M
Cronin
T
T
D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D010758:Phosphorus; D007854:Lead; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D012964:Sodium; D000535:Aluminum; D007501:Iron; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium