To perform non-invasive Electroarthrography (EAG) on live horses and establish relationships between EAG and direct measurements of cartilage streaming potentials in weight bearing areas of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. EAG was performed bilaterally on the metacarpophalangeal joints of live horses (n = 3). Separate experiments used metacarpophalangeal joint explants (n = 11) to measure EAG obtained during simulated loading followed by direct measurements of cartilage streaming potentials on joint surfaces using the Arthro-BST probe. Joints were assigned to relatively normal (n = 5) and mildly degraded (n = 6) groups based on histological scoring of Safranin-O/Fast Green stained sections. EAG, involving application of electrodes to skin surrounding the joint and repeated weight shifting, was well-tolerated in live horses. One pair of distal forelimbs were available for analogous ex vivo EAG testing and measurements were strongly correlated to in vivo EAG measurements obtained on the same joints (r = 0.804, p = 0.016, n = 8). Both indirect (EAG) and direct (Arthro-BST) measurements of cartilage streaming potentials distinguished between normal and mildly degraded cartilage with statistically significant differences at 5 of 6 and 4 of 6 electrodes during simulated standing and walking, respectively. Strong and moderate correlations for weight bearing regions on the dorsal phalanx and central metacarpus were detected during both standing and walking. At the metacarpus/sesamoid interface a moderate correlation occurred during walking. Non-invasive EAG was used successfully in a clinical scenario and correlated to direct measurements of streaming potentials in weight bearing cartilage. These data support the potential of EAG to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative joint diseases.

中文翻译：

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非侵入性关节电图测量活马的软骨，并与马掌指关节承重区域软骨流动电位的直接测量相关


对活马进行非侵入性关节电图 (EAG)，并建立 EAG 与马掌指关节承重区域软骨流电位的直接测量之间的关系。对活马的双侧掌指关节进行 EAG（n = 3）。单独的实验使用掌指关节外植体 (n = 11) 来测量模拟加载过程中获得的 EAG，然后使用 Arthro-BST 探针直接测量关节表面的软骨流动电位。根据番红-O/固绿染色切片的组织学评分，将关节分为相对正常 (n = 5) 和轻度退化 (n = 6) 组。 EAG 涉及将电极应用于关节周围的皮肤并反复转移体重，在活马中具有良好的耐受性。一对远端前肢可用于类似的离体 EAG 测试，并且测量值与在相同关节上获得的体内 EAG 测量值密切相关（r = 0.804，p = 0.016，n = 8）。软骨流动电位的间接 (EAG) 和直接 (Arthro-BST) 测量均可区分正常软骨和轻度退化软骨，在模拟站立和行走期间，分别在 6 个电极中的 5 个和 6 个电极中的 4 个电极上存在统计显着差异。在站立和行走过程中，检测到背指骨和中央掌骨的负重区域存在强相关性和中度相关性。在掌骨/籽骨界面处，步行期间发生中等相关性。无创 EAG 已成功应用于临床，并与负重软骨中流动电位的直接测量相关。 这些数据支持 EAG 有助于诊断和治疗退行性关节疾病的潜力。