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Endothelial lipopigment as an indicator of α-tocopherol deficiency in two equine neurodegenerative diseases

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Abstract

Two spontaneous neurodegenerative diseases of the horse, equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), have been associated with α-tocopherol deficiency, and both were characterized by prominent accumulations of endothelial lipopigment in the small vessels of the spinal cord. These endothelial pigment deposits appear to be reversible. In EMND horses pasture-supplemented for 9 months or more after the progression of weakness and wasting had arrested, there was very little endothelial lipopigment. The origin and the potential effects of these endothelial lipopigment accumulations are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 14853-6401, Ithaca, NY, USA

    J. F. Cummings & A. de Lahunta

  2. Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    H. O. Mohammed, T. J. Divers & C. A. Jackson

  3. Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    B. A. Summers & B. A. Valentine

Authors
  1. J. F. Cummings
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  2. A. de Lahunta
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  3. H. O. Mohammed
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  4. T. J. Divers
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  5. B. A. Summers
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  6. B. A. Valentine
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  7. C. A. Jackson
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Cummings, J.F., de Lahunta, A., Mohammed, H.O. et al. Endothelial lipopigment as an indicator of α-tocopherol deficiency in two equine neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol 90, 266–272 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296510

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296510

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