Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Colic Researchers: Tight Junctions Crucial in Gut Function

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Stephanie L. Church, Editor-in-Chief • Feb 01, 2013 • Article #31289

Colic remains a preeminent focus among equine researchers, and a North Carolina State University research team is breaking it down to the nitty gritty by examining how infectious disease and inflammation impact cells in the horse's gut. Specifically, they are focusing on the "tight junctions," or the spaces between microvilli--microscopic cellular membrane protrusions--in the intestinal mucosal lining.

"Sessions on tight junctions at the (human) medical conferences are packed," said Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery and gastroenterology at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine. It's only appropriate that veterinarians examine the same structures in horses. Blikslager described his team's progress at the Ninth International Conference on Equine Infectious Diseases, held October 2012 in Lexington, Ky...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31289/colic-researchers-tight-junctions-crucial-in-gut-function

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