The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ketoprofen, phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine on the apoptotic index of the epithelial cells of lamellar tissue of horses with induced laminitis. 20 healthy horses were employed and underwent induction of laminitis by administration of starch, divided into four groups with induced laminitis (n = 5): saline, ketoprofen, phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine. The lamellar tissue was collected by biopsy, fixed and stained with the TUNEL technique. All that were stained positive by this technique were added to the cell morphological identification of apoptosis. No significant difference was found in the apoptotic index between the groups treated with anti-inflammatory and controls (P> 0.05). It was concluded that the administration of NSAIDs after the prodromal phase of laminitis does not contribute to an intervention in the course of apoptosis in the lamellar tissue of horses with laminitis when compared to the untreated control group. Other studies with different evaluation periods are needed to clarify the effects of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs in the pathophysiology of laminitis in horses, especially regarding the role of apoptosis.
apoptosis; equine; laminitis
