Influence of liver copper status of mare and newborn foal on the development of osteochondrotic lesions.
BACKGROUND
To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis.


OBJECTIVE
There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested.


METHODS
Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar and dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique views) and stifles (lateromedial and caudolateral-craniomedial oblique views) at ages 5 and 11 months and scored for the presence and severity of osteochondrotic lesions.


RESULTS
Copper concentrations in newborn foals were high with a large variation (351 +/- 201 mg/kg DM). They declined until reaching values comparable to those in mature animals at 5 months (20 +/- 8 mg/kg DM; mares: 19 +/- 20 mg/kg DM). Radiographic osteochondrotic lesions decreased in number and severity from 5 to 11 months. This pattern was more predominant in the stifle than in the hock, as has been described previously.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no relationship between foal or mare liver copper concentration and osteochondrosis status at either 5 or 11 months. However, osteochondrotic lesions in foals with low-level copper status at birth decreased significantly less in number and severity than those in foals with high-level copper status at birth.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that copper is not likely to be an important factor in the aetiopathogenesis of osteochondrosis, but this study indicates that there may be a significant effect of high copper status on the natural process of repair of early lesions.
van Weeren
P R
PR
Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Yalelaan 12, NL-3584 CM Utrech, The Netherlands.
Knaap
J
J
Firth
E C
EC
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011859:Radiography; D013264:Stifle / Q000473:pathology; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000473:pathology
D003300:Copper