Fluorangiographic study of the ocular fundus in normal horses.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the protocol and appearance of fluorescein angiography (FA) in normal horses.


METHODS
A total of 25 healthy horses aged between 5 and 15 years.


METHODS
The horses were sedated with 15 microg/kg detomidine and 50 microg/kg butorphanol and dilated with topical tropicamide 1%. All angiograms were recorded after intravenous bolus injection of 10 mg/kg of fluorescein sodium solution.


RESULTS
Two successive angiographic phases could be discerned: the choriopapillary phase, starting at 46.95 +/- 9.48 s, and the retinal vascular phase, starting at 47.79 +/- 10.38 s. The retinal vascular phase was divided in three parts: filling phase, maximum fluorescence point, and fading phase. During the filling phase, the dye progressed into the retinal vessels, obtaining maximum fluorescence at 59.79 +/- 10.39 s, termed the maximum fluorescence point. The fading phase started immediately following the maximum fluorescence point. During this phase, vascular fluorescence decreased to complete reduction at 74.76 +/- 9.81 s. Also, areas of delayed choroidal filling, the presence of short retinal vessels in the ventral region of the optic disc, and a particular filling of the optic disc were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The normal angiographic sequence was described in horses. FA may be a useful method for studying the integrity of the blood-retinal barriers in horses.
Molleda
José M
JM
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
Cervantes
Isabel
I
Galán
Alba
A
Tardón
Rodrigo
R
Gallardo
José M
JM
Martín-Suárez
Eva M
EM
D000818:Animals; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012160:Retina; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*