title: Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical evaluation of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave treatment in the hind limbs of horses with experimentally induced suspensory ligament desmitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on affected ligaments in the hind limbs of horses with experimentally induced suspensory ligament desmitis by use of ultrasonographic, ultrastructural, and immunocytochemical techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suspensory ligament desmitis was induced in both hind limbs of each horse by use of 2 collagenase injections (administered 2 weeks apart) in each suspensory ligament. Two weeks after the second injection, the right hind limb of each horse was treated with ESWT (3 treatments at 3-week intervals); the left hind limb was not treated (control limb). Periodically during the study, the healing process was monitored ultrasonographically and the proportions of ligaments affected with lesions were assessed. Four weeks after the last ESWT treatment, biopsy specimens were collected from all ligaments for ultrastructural evaluation and immunocytochemical analysis of transforming growth factor beta-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in the proportion of the lesion-affected ligament between ESWT-treated and control limbs was significant (P < 0.05) from 3 weeks after the second ESWT treatment to the end of the study. Compared with control ligaments, ESWT-treated ligaments had more small, newly formed collagen fibrils and greater expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 4 weeks after the last ESWT treatment was administered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results have indicated that ESWT appears to facilitate the healing process in horses with experimentally induced hind limb suspensory ligament desmitis.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Caminoto
authors.forename: Ana Liz G
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Renée L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Armen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomassian
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hussni
authors.forename: José Luis M
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006614:Hindlimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male