Effect of a Glp-1 Mimetic on the Insulin Response to Oral Sugar Testing in Horses

BACKGROUND: Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the most important risk factor for the development of laminitis in horses and therapies to control it are needed. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of a single dose of the synthetic GLP-1 analog exenatide on postprandial insulin dynamics. We hypothesized that exenatide would improve insulin sensitivity and lower postprandial blood insulin concentrations. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, crossover, experimental study. ANIMALS: Six horses (3 mares, 3 geldings; 2 with normal insulin regulation [NIR] and 4 with mild ID). METHODS: Horses completed both study arms: subcutaneous administration of exenatide (or no treatment) 30 min before an oral sugar test (0.15 ml/kg of Karo Syrup). Blood samples obtained over 240 min were assayed for glucose, insulin, lactate, c-peptide and total GLP-1. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Insulin sensitivity (S RESULTS: Exenatide resulted in a postprandial decrease of 20% (effect size: 2673 µU·min/ml; 95% CI: 900 - 4446 µU·min/ml; P = 0.003) in AUC of plasma insulin (control; mean AUC insulin: 11,989 µU·min/ml; 95% CI: 9673 - 14,305 µU·min/ml, exenatide; mean AUC insulin: 9316 µU·min/ml; 95% CI: 7430 - 11,202 µU·min/ml). Exenatide resulted in an approximately threefold increase (effect size: 5.56 10 CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in insulin response to carbohydrates was due to an increase in whole-body insulin sensitivity. GLP-1 agonists may have therapeutic potential for ID in horses

The effect of hypothermia on influx of leukocytes in the digital lamellae of horses with oligofructose-induced laminitis

Sepsis-related laminitis (SRL) is a common complication in the septic/endotoxemic critically-ill equine patient, in which lamellar injury and failure commonly lead to crippling distal displacement of the distal phalanx. Similar to organ injury in human sepsis, lamellar injury in SRL has been associated with inflammatory events, including the influx of leukocytes into the lamellar tissue and markedly increased expression of a wide array of inflammatory mediators at the onset of Obel grade 1 (OG1) laminitis. The only treatment reported both clinically and experimentally to protect the lamellae in SRL, local hypothermia (“cryotherapy”), has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit lamellar expression of multiple inflammatory mediators when initiated at the time of administration of a carbohydrate overload in experimental models of SRL. However, the effect of hypothermia on leukocyte influx into affected tissue has not been assessed. We hypothesized that cryotherapy inhibits leukocyte emigration into the digital lamellae in SRL. Immunohistochemical staining using leukocyte markers MAC387 (marker of neutrophils, activated monocytes) and CD163 (monocyte/macrophage-specific marker) was performed on archived lamellar tissue samples from an experimental model of SRL in which one forelimb was maintained at ambient temperature (AMB) and one forelimb was immersed in ice water (ICE) immediately following enteral oligofructose administration (10\ua0g/kg, n\ua0=\ua014 horses). Lamellae were harvested at 24\ua0h post-oligofructose administration (DEV, n\ua0=\ua07) or at the onset of OG1 laminitis (OG1, n\ua0=\ua07). Both MAC387-positive and CD163-positive cells were counted by a single blinded investigator on images [n\ua0=\ua010 (40× fields/digit for MAC387 and 20\ua0x fields/digit for CD163)] obtained using Aperio microscopy imaging analysis software. Data were assessed for normality and analyzed with a paired t-test and one-way ANOVA with significance set at p\ua

Distribution of technetium-99m PEG-liposomes during oligofructose-induced laminitis development in horses

Liposomes are phospholipid nanoparticles used for targeted drug delivery. This study aimed to determine whether intravenous liposomes accumulate in lamellar tissue during laminitis development in horses so as to assess their potential for targeted lamellar drug delivery. Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) coated liposomes were prepared according to the film hydration method and labelled using Tc-hexamethyl-propylene-amine-oxime. Six horses received 10 g/kg oligofructose via nasogastric tube to induce laminitis, and four control horses received water via nasogastric tube. All horses received 300 μmol Tc-PEG-liposomes (5.5 GBq) plus 5.5 μmol/kg PEG-liposomes by slow intravenous infusion. Scintigraphic imaging was performed at 0, 6 and 12 h post-infusion. Technetium-99m liposome uptake was measured in regions of interest over the hoof, fetlock and metacarpus. At the study end-point horses were euthanased, tissue samples collected and tissue liposome levels were calculated as the percentage of the injected dose of Tc-liposomes per kilogram of tissue. Data were analysed non-parametrically.All horses receiving oligofructose developed clinical and histological signs of laminitis. Technetium-99m liposome uptake in the hoof increased with time in laminitis horses (P = 0.04), but decreased with time in control horses (P = 0.01). Technetium-99m liposome levels in lamellar tissue from laminitis horses were 3.2-fold higher than controls (P = 0.02) and were also higher in laminitis vs. control skin, muscle, jejunum, colon, and kidney (P < 0.05). Liposomes accumulated in lamellar tissue during oligofructose-induced laminitis development and demonstrated potential for targeted lamellar drug delivery in acute laminitis. This study provides further evidence that lamellar inflammation occurs during laminitis development. Liposome accumulation also occurred in the skin, muscle, jejunum, colon and kidneys, suggesting systemic inflammation in this model

Intraosseous infusion of the distal phalanx compared to systemic intravenous infusion for marimastat delivery to equine lamellar tissue

No validated laminitis drug therapy exists, yet pharmaceutical agents with potential for laminitis prevention have been identified. Many of these are impractical for systemic administration but may be effective if administered locally. This study compared intraosseous infusion of the distal phalanx (IOIDP) with systemic intravenous constant rate infusion (CRI) to determine which was more effective for lamellar marimastat delivery. Ultrafiltration probes were placed in both forefeet of five horses to collect lamellar interstitial fluid as lamellar ultrafiltrate (LUF). Marimastat solution (3.5 mg/mL) containing lidocaine (20 mg/mL) was infused by IOIDP at 0.15 mL/min for 12 h. After a 12 h wash-out, marimastat (3.5 mg/mL) and lidocaine were infused by constant rate infusion (CRI) at 0.15 mL/min for 12 h. LUF, plasma and lamellar tissue marimastat concentrations were quantified using UPLC-MS. Zymography was used to establish the inhibitory concentrations of marimastat for equine lamellar matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Data were analysed non-parametrically. There was no difference between the steady-state marimastat concentration in lamellar ultrafiltrate (LUF[M]) during IOIDP (139[88-497] ng/mL) and CRI (136[93-157] ng/mL). During IOIDP, there was no difference between marimastat concentrations in the treated foot (139[88-497] ng/mL), the untreated foot (91[63-154] ng/mL) and plasma (101[93-118] ng/mL). LUF[M] after IOIDP and CRI were >IC50 of lamellar MMP-2 and 9, but below the concentration considered necessary for in vivo laminitis prevention. Lamellar drug delivery during IOIDP was inconsistent and did not achieve higher lamellar marimastat concentrations than CRI. Modification or refinement of the IOIDP technique is necessary if it is to be consistently effective

Equine Laminitis: Comparative histopathology 48 hours after experimental induction with insulin or alimentary oligofructose in standardbred horses

Laminitis has many triggers and comparing the histopathology of lesions induced by different causes may help to establish whether a common mechanism or multiple pathologies are involved. The aim of this study was to describe the microscopical lesions and to quantify morphometric changes in the lamellae of horses with insulin-induced (n = 4) and oligofructose (OF) -induced laminitis (n = 4) compared with normal controls (n = 4). Archived lamellar samples collected during two previous studies were used. Laminitis was induced within 48 h in standardbred horses with either a euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) technique or, in a separate experiment, with an overdose of alimentary OF. Normal tissue was obtained from control horses in the EPIC experiment that received a balanced electrolyte solution intravenously for 48 h. Six measurements of lamellar length and width were recorded for each hoof. Leucocyte infiltration was assessed by immunolocalization of calprotectin. All control horses exhibited normal lamellar architecture, whereas treated horses developed clinical and histopathological changes consistent with laminitis. Laminitic samples displayed lengthening and narrowing of secondary epidermal lamellae (SELs), rounded epidermal basal cell (EBC) nuclei, mitosis and apoptosis. In the fore feet of laminitic horses, the length from the end of the keratinized axis to the axial tip of the primary epidermal lamellae (PELs) was increased (P < 0.05). SELs were significantly longer (P < 0.05) and narrower (P < 0.05) in the treated horses compared with controls. The two treated groups did riot differ from each other in SEL length or width. Calprotectin expression was absent in control horses, moderate in hyperinsulinaemic horses and marked in OF-treated horses. Laminitis induced experimentally with insulin or OF results in comparable lengthening and narrowing of the SELs and elongation of the axial end of the PELs at 48 h. Immunolocalization of calprotectin indicated that hyperinsulinaemia induces less leucocyte emigration than carbohydrate overload at 48 h. The microscopical lesion of laminitis is similar, but not identical in different forms of the disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Alfaxalone compared with ketamine for induction of anaesthesia in horses following xylazine and guaifenesin

Objective To compare anaesthesia induced with either alfaxalone or ketamine in horses following premedication with xylazine and guaifenesin. Study design Randomized blinded cross-over experimental study. Animals Six adult horses, five Standardbreds and one Thoroughbred; two mares and four geldings. Methods Each horse received, on separate occasions, induction of anaesthesia with either ketamine 2.2 mg kg-1 or alfaxalone 1 mg kg-1. Premedication was with xylazine 0.5 mg kg-1 and guaifenesin 35 mg kg-1. Incidence of tremors/shaking after induction, recovery and ataxia on recovery were scored. Time to recovery was recorded. Partial pressure of arterial blood oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaO2), arterial blood pressures, heart rate (HR) and respiratory rates were recorded before premedication and at intervals during anaesthesia. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test and are expressed as median (range). Results There was no difference in the quality of recovery or in ataxia scores. Horses receiving alfaxalone exhibited a higher incidence of tremors/shaking on induction compared with those receiving ketamine (five and one of six horses respectively). Horses recovered to standing similarly [28 (2447) minutes for alfaxalone; 22 (1835) for ketamine] but took longer to recover adequately to return to the paddock after alfaxalone [44 (3867) minutes] compared with ketamine [35 (3047)]. There was no statistical difference between treatments in effect on HR, PaO2 or PaCO2 although for both regimens, PaO2 decreased with respect to before premedication values. There was no difference between treatments in effect on blood pressure. Conclusions and clinical relevance Both alfaxalone and ketamine were effective at inducing anaesthesia, although at induction there were more muscle tremors after alfaxalone. As there were no differences between treatments in relation to cardiopulmonary responses or quality of recovery, and only minor differences in recovery times, both agents appear suitable for this purpose following the premedication regimen used in this study