Macroscopic and Histological Morphology of the Equine Digital Cushion and Its Association with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness

Macroscopic and Histological Morphology of the Equine Digital Cushion and Its Association with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness

This study evaluated the influence of the Body Condition Score (BCS) and subcutaneous fat thickness on the tissue composition of the digital cushion in horses. Sixty mixed breeds of Criollo horses (21 males and 39 females) were sent for slaughter. All animals were submitted to BCS analysis, through...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of equine veterinary science Vol. 95; p. 103283
Main Authors: Pizzi, Gino L.B.L., Valente, Ana L.S., Rechsteiner, Sandra M.E.F., Bruhn, Fabio R.P., Cruz, Luís A.X., Silva, Paula M., Barbosa, Antônio A., Ribeiro, Priscila F., Martins, Charles F.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2020
Subjects:
Adipocytes
Adipose Tissue - diagnostic imaging
Animals
Body Weight
Collagen fibers
Elastic fibers
Female
Hoof and Claw
Horses
Male
Morphology
Subcutaneous Fat - diagnostic imaging
Elastic fibers
Adipocytes
Collagen fibers
Morphology
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Summary:This study evaluated the influence of the Body Condition Score (BCS) and subcutaneous fat thickness on the tissue composition of the digital cushion in horses. Sixty mixed breeds of Criollo horses (21 males and 39 females) were sent for slaughter. All animals were submitted to BCS analysis, through visual antemortem evaluation, and then ultrasound evaluation to estimate the subcutaneous fat thickness. Macroscopic analyses of the thoracic and a pelvic limb (weight, volume, and density of the hooves and digital cushions) were performed. In addition, measurements of the area of internal structures to the hoof and histological analyzes were carried out to measure the areas of adipose, fibroelastic, and collagen fibers of the digital cushion. There were no macroscopic differences in the digital cushion between thoracic and pelvic limbs or between genders (P > .05). Likewise, the histological characteristics between the limbs and the genders were similar (P > .05). There was no correlation between the weight, volume, and density of the digital cushion with the BCS (P > .05). A positive correlation was observed with the area of adipose tissue (P = .038, R2 = 0.28) and a negative correlation with area of fibroelastic tissue (P = .005, R2 = −0.37) and collagen fibers (P = .003, R2 = −0.39). In conclusion, the adipose tissue, fibroelastic tissue, and collagen fibers of equine digital cushion alter their areas in the functions of the various subcutaneous fat patterns in horses. •The digital equine cushion is composed mostly of bundles of type I collagen fibers•There is a correlation between the subcutaneous fat and the digital cushion.•There a negative correlation between subcutaneous fat thickness with collagen fibers.
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ISSN:0737-0806
1542-7412
DOI:10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103283