Mechanical Stability of the Lamellar Interface in Claw Explants Subjected to Tension Test after Culture

Laminitis is a major cause of lameness in the cattle industry. Possible disease mechanisms of bovine laminitis have therefore been subjected to intensive research, but so far the understanding of the pathophysiology is incomplete. In vitro studies of claw tissue from maiden heifers, and heifers before and after calving have shown that mechanical stress-strain properties were related to changes in biochemical composition of the soft tissue1. Additionally, a recent clinical experiment reported deterioration of the dermo-epidermal junction when acute laminitis was induced with oligofructose2. The present in vitro study was therefore undertaken to examine the mechanical stability of the lamellar interface of ...