Concentrations of trace minerals in the spinal cord of horses with equine motor neuron disease

Objective-To compare concentrations of trace minerals in the spinal cord of horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) with those of horses withou t neurologic disease (control horses). Animals-24, horses with EMND and 22 control horses. Procedure-Spinal cord trace mineral concentrations in horses with EMND and control horses were analyzed by use of inductively coupled plasma atomic em ission spectroscopy (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, cop per, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, and chromium), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (lead and cadmium), flameless atomic absorpti on (mercury), and fluorometry (selenium). Results-Copper concentration was significantly higher in the spinal cord of horses with EMND, compared with control horses; spinal cord concentrations of all other trace minerals were similar between groups. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Among spinal cord trace minerals investig ated in the study, only copper concentrations were significantly different between horses with EMND and horses without neurologic disease, which sugge sts that copper may be involved in the pathogenesis of EMND. An hypothesis of oxidative injury in this disease is supported by the finding of increase d copper concentrations in the spinal cord and by low vitamin E concentrati ons reported by other researchers.