Summary
Our longrange goal is to reduce the time required for functional reinnervation of the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (CAD) in horses with RLN, so that horses may resume full training within 6 months and without risk of coughing, aspiration, and respiratory infection. If this is achieved, then reinnervation has the potential to become the preferred surgical treatment for RLN in many horses, as it certainly offers advantages over prosthetic laryngoplasty in that there are far fewer complications. Recent studies in a porcine model of laryngeal abductor muscle reinnervation indicate that treatment with a specific neurotrophin can reduce the reinnervation time from 4 months to 2 months. The proposed study is based on the hypothesis that administration of an appropriate combination of nerve and muscle growth factors at the time of surgery can accelerate the establishment of neuromuscular junctions and regeneration of CAD.
Program
Thoroughbred Horses
Research Organisation
The University of Melbourne
Objective Summary
The specific objectives of this project are: 1) To establish a nervemuscle culture system suitable for testing optimal conditions for successful reinnervation and return to function of the CAD in horses. 2) Using the new culture system, to identify appropriate neurotrophins and/or muscle growth factors that can be administered during laryngeal reinnervation surgery to accelerate the response to this procedure.
Project Code
PRJ-002363
Project Stage
Closed
Project Start Date
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Project Completion Date
Monday, December 19, 2011
Journal Articles From Project
Not Available
National Priority
Frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries
National Priority
Adoption of R&D
National Priority
HOR-Reduce the incidence and impact of diseases and parasites in horses