Authors: Frabasile Lorenzo, Amendola Caterina, Buttafava Mauro, Chincarini Matteo, Contini Davide, Cozzi Bruno, De Zani Donatella, Guerri Giulia, Lacerenza Michele, Minero Michela, Petrizzi Lucio, Qiu Lina, Rabbogliatti Vanessa, Rossi Emanuela, Spinelli Lorenzo, Straticò Paola, Vignola Giorgio, Zani Davide Danilo, Dalla Costa Emanuela, Torricelli Alessandro
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) represents a potentially valuable non-invasive biosensor tool for assessing equine health and welfare through optical measurements of tissue properties and real-time blood oxygen dynamics. Researchers conducted preliminary in vivo time domain NIRS measurements on horses and other domestic animals, recording optical absorption and scattering coefficients alongside key haemodynamic parameters (oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin concentrations, total haemoglobin, and tissue oxygen saturation) from skeletal muscle and cranial tissue. In horses specifically, significant variations emerged between muscle sites—the Longissimus Dorsi and Gluteus Superficialis demonstrated distinctly different optical properties compared to the Triceps Brachii, attributable to substantial subcutaneous adipose layers overlying the former muscles, which alter light penetration and tissue haemodynamic readings. The feasibility of obtaining reliable TD NIRS measurements in living horses opens clinical possibilities for monitoring muscle oxygenation during exercise assessment, recovery evaluation, and diagnosis of circulatory or muscular dysfunction, though practitioners should recognise that anatomical factors such as regional fat distribution significantly influence measurements and require standardised protocols for meaningful longitudinal comparisons. Further development and refinement of measurement sites and reference values specific to equine tissues will be essential before this technology can reliably inform lameness investigation, performance optimisation, or wound healing assessment in clinical practice.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •NIRS technology shows promise as a non-invasive tool for monitoring muscle tissue oxygenation and hemodynamics in working horses, with potential applications in assessing muscular fatigue or recovery
- •Understanding tissue-specific optical properties is essential for standardizing NIRS measurements; measurements across different muscle groups or species require protocol adjustments
- •Further research needed before clinical adoption, but this foundational work validates the feasibility of NIRS monitoring in equine practice settings
Key Findings
- •Time domain NIRS measurements of optical and hemodynamic properties are feasible in vivo in domestic animals including horses and dogs
- •Significant variations in optical absorption and scattering coefficients exist among different tissue types and species
- •In horses, thicker adipose layers over Longissimus Dorsi and Gluteus Superficialis produce different optical properties compared to Triceps Brachii
- •Species-specific differences in light penetration depth correlate with tissue composition and anatomical structure