Usefulness of Morphometric Measurements at Neck Area

USEFULNESS OF MORPHOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AT NECK AREA TO EVALUATE INSULIN DYSREGULATION IN ANDALUSIAN HORSES

Introduction
It has long been recognized that the enlargement of adipose tissues associated with the nuchal ligament contributes to the appearance of a `cresty neck` (1,2) and has been involved in diseases such as insulin resistance and laminitis (3,4,5).

Objectives
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among cresty neck score (CNS), morphometric neck measurements and plasma insulin proxies comparing horses with different levels of neck adiposity.

Methods
A sample of 111 Andalusian Horses (58 mares and 53 males) with a mean age of 8.44±3.18 (5-15 years) was studied. All horses were scored for neck adiposity (CNS). Neck-length, crest height over the mid-neck length and neck circumferences (cm) at 25% (NC25%), 50% (NC50%) and 75% (NC75%) of neck-length were measured. Grain concentrate was withheld for a 12h period before sampling. Blood samples were obtained between 6:00-10:00am for measurement of basal glucose and insulin, and calculation of RISQI and MIRG proxies. Two groups were created: cresty neck (CNS≥3) and non-cresty neck (CNS<3) horses. Means comparisons were carried out with Student’s t or Mann-Whitney tests. Correlations were assessed with coefficients of Pearson or Spearman. […]