Effect of increased intraarticular pressure on equine synovial
tissue blood flow as determined by colored microspheres.
Hardy, Joanne, Alicia L Bertone, William W Muir.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH 43220
APStracts 2:0537A, 1995.
We measured regional blood flow in synovial tissue of the
antebrachiocarpal, midcarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints of six
normal adult anesthetized horses, with 15 [mu]m-diameter polystyrene
colored microspheres. The midcarpal fibrous capsule and synovial
membrane blood flows (SMBF) were compared and the effect of increased
intraarticular pressure (30 and 60 mmHg) on midcarpal SMBF was
investigated. Dorsal, medial palmar and lateral palmar midcarpal SMBF
measured 108 +/- 36, 61 +/- 12 and 50 +/- 11 [mu]l x min-1 x g-1
respectively. Antebrachiocarpal, dorsal and palmar
metacarpophalangeal SMBF measured 103+/- 8, 17 +/- 3 and 26 +/- 5
[mu]l x min-1 x g-1 respectively. Midcarpal fibrous joint capsule
blood flow was significantly lower than that of the synovial
membrane. Increased midcarpal intraarticular pressure to 30 mmHg or
60 mmHg resulted in an 84% decrease in SMBF. Colored microspheres
provided a useful technique to determine sequential SMBF. Increased
intraarticular pressure significantly altered SMBF suggesting a role
of the regional circulation in the pathogenesis of joint disease.
Received 13 June 1994; accepted in final form 20 November 1995
APS Manuscript Number A582-4.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 December 95