The Laminitis Discovery Database is a collaborative tissue bank and information resource.
Introduction
Establishment of a centralized laminitis tissue bank was identified as a top priority at the first AAEP Foundation Equine Laminitis Research Workshop. Initiated in 2008, the purpose of the Laminitis Discovery Database is to collect and provide well-documented tissue samples from non-laminitic and experimental and natural laminitic horses for collaborative research.
Materials and Methods
Samples collected: ante-mortem serum and plasma, gross specimen images and lamellar length measurements, liquid nitrogen snap frozen, formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded, and paraformaldehyde-fixed/OCT-embedded frozen tissue collected from five regions along the dorsal dermal-epidermal interface: skin, coronary, proximal, mid, and distal lamellar tissues, and frozen mixed cells. Tissue and horse information stored in a master catalog and freezer log. A mid-lamellar sample from each foot is submitted for histopathological evaluation.
Results
Currently, samples have been banked from 78 horses, including 48h hyperinsulinemia model (4, plus matched controls), 24h oligofructose model (5), fetuses (6), foals (3), non-laminitic horses (32), and laminitic horses (16) including supporting limb (3), retained placenta (1), PPID (4), chronic (6), and acute (2) laminitis. Various ages (non-laminitic: 9.2 ± 5.7 (mean ± S.D.) years; and laminitic: 14 ± 10 years) and breeds are represented.
Discussion
Major challenges of tissue banking include case recruitment, timing and technical difficulty of tissue retrieval, and proper archiving. More samples are needed for age/breed/sex-matched case-control studies.
Clinical Relevance
Understanding laminitis pathophysiology is essential for the rational development of an evidence-based approach to this disease.
Conclusion
Banked tissue from clinical cases of laminitis is needed to validate research based on experimental models of laminitis.
1Laminitis Institute, Department of Clinical Studies/New Bolton Center and Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA
2Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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