In vitro evaluation of intraluminal factors that may alter intestinal permeability in ponies with carbohydrate-induced laminitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the in vitro effects of cecal contents incubated with corn starch on colonic permeability in horses.


METHODS
4 healthy adult ponies.


METHODS
Mucosal specimens were obtained from the right ventral colon and mounted in Ussing chambers. Changes in short circuit current, conductance, and large-molecule permeability in response to addition of cecal contents and cecal contents incubated with corn starch were evaluated for 120 minutes.


RESULTS
Incubation of cecal contents with corn starch for 8 hours resulted in a decrease in cecal content pH and an increase in lactic acid concentration. These changes were similar to those reported in vivo for ponies given corn starch. Exposure of colonic mucosa to cecal contents incubated with corn starch resulted in an increase in tissue conductance and permeability of technetium Tc 99m pentetate, compared with mucosa exposed to cecal contents alone.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro exposure of colonic mucosa to cecal contents incubated with starch resulted in increased paracellular permeability. Fermentation of excessive amounts of carbohydrate in the intestinal lumen of horses may directly induce increased intestinal permeability associated with carbohydrate-induced laminitis.
Weiss
D J
DJ
Department of Veterinary PathoBiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
Evanson
O A
OA
Green
B T
BT
Brown
D R
DR
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006736:Horses; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010539:Permeability; D012588:Scintillation Counting / Q000662:veterinary; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / Q000737:chemistry
D019344:Lactic Acid; D013213:Starch; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate