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farriery
veterinary
biomechanics
nutrition
anatomy
2019
Thesis

Viability of Equine Chondrocytes After Exposure to Mepivacaine and Ropivacaine In Vitro.

Authors: Silva Gabriele Biavaschi, De La Côrte Flávio D, Brass Karin E, Palma Heloisa Einloft, Gallio Miguel, Cantarelli Camila, Bertolin Kalyne, Krause Alexandre, Wergutz Julien, Fontanari Krause Luciana Maria, Antoniazzi Alfredo Quites

Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science

DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.02.019PubMed: 31133323Log in to save

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Local Anaesthetic Safety in Equine Joint Injections Intra-articular local anaesthetics present a clinical paradox: whilst essential for diagnostic analgesia and therapeutic procedures, they may compromise chondrocyte viability and cartilage health over time. Researchers cultured chondrocytes harvested from normal equine metacarpophalangeal joints and exposed them to ropivacaine (7.5 and 10 mg/ml) or mepivacaine (20 and 30 mg/ml) alongside control media and saline, then assessed cell viability using three complementary methods: trypan blue exclusion, MTT metabolic assay, and flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining. Mepivacaine demonstrated substantially greater chondrotoxicity at both concentrations tested, with MTT assay showing significant viability loss compared to ropivacaine and control groups (P <0.0001), whilst ropivacaine at 7.5 mg/ml showed comparable viability to normal culture medium on flow cytometric analysis. The findings suggest ropivacaine may be the safer choice for intra-articular use, though notably the three assessment methods produced divergent results, highlighting the importance of methodological rigour when evaluating anaesthetic cytotoxicity. Until in vivo studies clarify the clinical significance of these effects over extended periods, practitioners should weigh the diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of intra-articular injection against potential cartilage damage, particularly when repeat procedures are anticipated.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Practical Takeaways

  • •When selecting local anesthetics for intra-articular use (diagnostic or therapeutic), ropivacaine may be preferable to mepivacaine based on lower demonstrated chondrotoxicity in vitro
  • •In vitro evidence alone is insufficient for clinical recommendations; long-term in vivo studies are needed to determine safe concentrations and exposure times for intra-articular anesthetic use
  • •Multiple viability assessment methods may yield discordant results; clinical interpretation of chondrocyte toxicity studies requires careful consideration of assay methodology

Key Findings

  • •Mepivacaine (20 and 30 mg/ml) showed significantly greater reduction in chondrocyte viability compared to ropivacaine and saline control (P < 0.0001)
  • •Ropivacaine at 7.5 mg/ml demonstrated viability comparable to standard culture medium by flow cytometry, suggesting lower chondrotoxicity
  • •Trypan blue exclusion assay showed no differences between treatments, while MTT and flow cytometry revealed significant viability reductions with local anesthetics
  • •Short-term in vitro exposure to ropivacaine resulted in less chondrotoxicity than mepivacaine exposure

Conditions Studied

chondrocyte toxicity assessmentlocal anesthetic effects on articular cartilage

Tags

anaesthesiachondrocytehorseintra articularmepivacaineropivacaine

Related References

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