title: Effects of the addition of endotoxin during perfusion of isolated forelimbs of equine cadavers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of endotoxins on metabolism and histopathologic changes of isolated perfused equine forelimbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forelimbs (comprising the metacarpus and digit) were collected from cadavers of 12 healthy adult horses after slaughter at an abattoir (14 limbs; 1 forelimb of 10 horses and both forelimbs of 2 horses).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forelimbs were perfused for 10 hours with autologous blood, with and without the addition of endotoxin (80 ng of lipopolysaccharide [LPS]/L). Two limbs of the endotoxin exposure group and 2 nonperfused limbs were loaded to failure of the suspensory apparatus of the pedal bone to evaluate the effect of body weight. Metabolic and histologic variables were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure increased during the first hour and did not differ between groups. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was similar in both groups and increased significantly during the 10-hour period; glucose consumption at 5 hours and lactate concentration at 8 hours were significantly higher in limbs exposed to endotoxin. The width of secondary epidermal lamellae was greater in LPS limbs. In the primary dermal lamellae of LPS limbs, there were significantly more vessels with an open lumen and aggregates of intravascular neutrophils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the blood-perfused isolated forelimbs of equine cadavers, exposure to LPS led to significant changes in the laminar tissue as well as to metabolic changes. Therefore, endotoxin should be considered as a causative factor for laminitis and not merely as a risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department for Horses and Small Animals, Veterinary University Vienna, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patan-Zugaj
authors.forename: Felicia C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Gauff
authors.forename: Theresia F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Licka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002102:Cadaver; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005552:Forelimb / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000662:veterinary; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase