Aspectos morfológicos de biopsias musculares en equinos con deformación del borde dorsal del cuello

The aim of this study was to describe the morphological, histological and immunohistochemical changes in muscle biopsies in equines with dorsal neck deformation. They were studied 150 horses of the races: Spanish Pure Breed Spanish (84/150), Arabic-Hispanic (33/150), Lusitano (19/150), Cross (14/150), between 5-15 years, all with DBDC, in the Autonomous Communities of Andalucia and Extremadura, Spain. A clinical and morphological examination was performed on each equine. The biopsy technique was performed on the dorsal neck region. The tissue fragments were processed by conventional histological methods and were classified by histological recognition patterns; the Desmina antibody was used for the immunohistochemical study. An ANOVA statistical analysis was performed, as well as a covariance analysis of the studied variables. The results showed DBDC (cresty neck) in all equines studied, with predominance of neck deformation grade 3 (67%), grade 4 (25%) and grade 5 (8%). Desmin antibody was negative for grades of neck deformity 3, 4 and 5 (Negative Desmin ---). The statistical results show a negative correlation between the degree of deformity and the morphometric measurements of the biopsy (-0.71), as well as in the rest of the studied variables. In conclusion, the morphological changes observed were degenerative metabolic processes associated with fat infiltration, these changes were observed in the muscular myofibril characterized by increased intercellular space, cellular cytoskeletal loss and loss of Z bands, associated with fat infiltration (lipomatosis), in the equine studied.