Tissue-specific dysregulation of cortisol metabolism in equine laminitis

Reasons for performing study: The role of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the pathogenesis of laminitis is incompletely understood. Local tissue activity of GC is regulated by the steroid converting enzyme, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11β-HSD-1). Changes in integumentary (skin and hoof lamellar) 11β-HSD activity occurring during laminitis could affect the extent to which GCs are involved in its development. Hypothesis: That changes in integumentary 11β-HSD-1 activity associated with the laminitic condition would lead to elevated local tissue levels of GCs, which could subsequently contribute, through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms, to the further development of laminitis; and that similar changes in 11β-HSD-1 activity would be evident in both skin and hoof lamellar tissue. Methods: Activity of 11β-HSD-1 was determined in skin and hoof lamellar tissue specimens obtained from normal and laminitic horses using a radiometric assay. Skin samples were obtained from 10 normal horses and from 10 horses before and after induction of acute laminitis following administration of starch via nasogastric tube. Hoof lamellar samples were obtained from 10 normal horses, 10 horses following induction of acute laminitis and 4 chronically-foundered horses. Bidirectional 11β-HSD-1 activity was measured in both skin and lamellar tissues. Results: 11-ketoreductase activity exceeded 11β-dehydrogenase activity in both skin and lamellar tissues. Cutaneous activity was higher than lamellar 11β-HSD-1 activity in all groups. Both ketoreductase and dehydrogenase activity increased in skin and lamellae following experimental induction of acute laminitis, but the increase in ketoreductase activity was substantially greater than that for dehydrogenase in the lamellae. Induction of acute laminitis was attended by increases of 227 and 220% in cutaneous dehydrogenase and ketoreductase activity, respectively, and 173 and 398% in lamellar dehydrogenase and ketoreductase activity, respectively (P