Abstract

ARGUELLES, D; CARMONA, JU  and  PRADES, M. Evaluation of the transforming growth factor beta 1 and beta 3 levels in plasma and peritoneal fluid from horses with acute abdominal disease. Arch. med. vet. [online]. 2009, vol.41, n.3, pp. 213-219. ISSN 0301-732X.  doi: 10.4067/S0301-732X2009000300005.

There is few information about the molecules present in the peritoneal fluid of horses with colic that are related to the potential development of abdominal adhesions. Studies carried out in different species correlate high levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) series with the presence of abdominal adhesions. The aims of this study were: 1) to document and compare the plasma and peritoneal fluid levels of TGF-ß₁ and TGF-ß₃ in horses with acute abdominal disease and normal horses, 2) to correlate the levels of these peptides with the hemogram values and the cytological and biochemical peritoneal fluid findings. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples from 104 horses were obtained: 29 were medical colics (15 were obstructive simple colic and 14 were inflammatory colic), 65 underwent abdominal surgery (30 horses suffered from ischemic problems and 35 from non ischemic problems), and 10 were controls. A hemogram was performed and peritoneal fluid cytology and TGF-ß₁ and TGF-ß₃ plasma and peritoneal fluid levels were determined by ELISA. The TGF-ß₁ peritoneal fluid levels were statistically (P < 0.05) higher in ischemic colics and inflammatory colics compared with controls and other type of surgical or medical colics. In conclusion, the levels of peritoneal fluid TGF-ß₁ are elevated in horses with acute abdominal disease in response to inflammation. The horses with strangulating lesions and peritonitis show greater alterations of TGF-ß₁ levels.

Keywords : equine colic; post-surgical complications; adhesions; transforming growth factor beta.