[en] Navicular bones from the four limbs of 95 horses, classified in 9 categories, were studied. The effects of age on navicular bone morphometry and histomorphometry were estimated, after adjustment of the data to even out the effects of front and rear limbs, morphometrical type, sex, weight, and size. All the external measurements of the navicular bone decreased significantly with increasing age. From the histomorphometrical data, cortical bone volume decreased with age in most horses, whereas cancellous bone volume and, in particular, the marrow spaces increased. The increase in the cancellous bone volume could have resulted from tunnelling of the internal part of the cortex, which converted it progressively into a porous trabecular-like structure. Trabecular bone volume also decreased with age and the trabecular lattice changed dramatically to become disconnected in aged horses. These observations corresponded closely to those reported for ageing of the skeletal system in humans. However, in sporting horses, the navicular cortical bone volume increased with age and the cancellous bone volume decreased. Exercise appeared to have decreased bone resorption and increased bone formation at the endocortical junction. The cancellous bone architecture was also improved. in that the trabecular lattice and trabecular bone volume remained unchanged in aged sporting horses. Our findings confirmed that exercise may be good practice to prevent age-related bone loss.
Disciplines :
Rheumatology Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Gabriel, Annick ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Anatomie des animaux domestiques
Detilleux, Johann ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de productions animales > Génétique quantitative
Jolly, Sandra ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Pathologie générale et autopsies
Reginster, Jean-Yves ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Epidémiologie et santé publique
Collin, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Département de morphologie et pathologie
Dessy, Cécile ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté de médecine vétérinaire) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Méd. vétérinaire)
Language :
English
Title :
Morphometrical study of the equine navicular bone: age-related changes and influence of exercise
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