Use of serial laminar tissue collection via biopsy in conscious healthy horses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of performing serial laminar and skin biopsies on sedated horses and whether sampling affected adjacent tissues.


METHODS
6 horses.


METHODS
Laminar tissues were harvested via biopsy through the hoof wall from healthy conscious horses via sedation and regional anesthesia. Eight specimens were collected at 4 time points during 24 hours from a single foot. Laminar biopsy specimens were harvested with a 6-mm-diameter biopsy punch after burring through the horny corium to the stratum medium. Skin biopsy specimens were collected from an area proximal to the coronary band. All tissues were examined via light microscopy. Total RNA was extracted and quantified, and gene expression analysis was completed for 2 housekeeping genes and the inflammatory mediator cyclooxygenase-2.


RESULTS
Laminar and skin biopsies yielded adequate specimens for histologic and gene expression evaluation. There was no extension of inflammation or detectable damage to adjacent tissues during the 24-hour period in either laminar or skin specimens as judged via histologic findings and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Lameness and discomfort induced by the procedure were minimal.


CONCLUSIONS
Laminar biopsy provided a satisfactory method of collecting laminar specimens and allowed serial sampling of individual horses.
Hanly
Brenna K
BK
Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Stokes
Ashley M
AM
Bell
Amy M
AM
Johnson
Jill R
JR
Keowen
Michael L
ML
Paulsen
Daniel B
DB
Sod
Gary A
GA
Moore
Rustin M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008853:Microscopy; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*