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Recombinant Equine Growth Hormone does not Affect the In Vitro Biomechanical Properties of Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon
Author(s) -
Dowling Bradley A.,
Dart Andrew J.,
Hodgson David R.,
Rose Reuben J.,
Walsh William R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1053/jvet.2002.33591
Subject(s) - medicine , forelimb , tendon , strain (injury) , analysis of variance , anatomy
Objective— To evaluate the effect of recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) on the in vitro biomechanical properties of normal adult equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Study design— Completely randomized design. Sample population— Nine Standardbred horses, 6 to 9 years of age with ultrasonographically normal forelimb SDFT. Methods— Six horses were administered intramuscular (IM) rEGH at 10 μg/kg/day for 1 week, and then 20 μg/kg/day for another 5 weeks; 3 horses (control subjects) were administered an equivalent daily volume of sterile water IM. Horses were killed at the end of the 6‐week treatment period, and both forelimb SDFT were harvested and stored at −70°C. In vitro biomechanical testing was performed under uniaxial tension. Results were analyzed using a general linear model of analysis of variance; significance was set at P < .05 . Results— There were no differences in cross‐sectional area, maximal load at failure, yield load, ultimate and yield tensile strain, ultimate and yield tensile stress, or stiffness between tendons from control and treated horses. Conclusions— Administration of rEGH to adult Standardbred horses for 6 weeks had no detectable effect on the in vitro biomechanical properties of normal SDFT. Clinical relevance— Administration of rEGH does not modulate the in vitro biomechanical properties of SDFT from adult Standardbred horses.