Jörg Auer

Publications (5)13.19 Total impact

• Article: Isolation, establishment, and characterization of ex vivo equine melanoma cell cultures.

  Sarah W Kamau Chapman, Nadine Metzger, Paula Grest, Karsten Feige, Brigitte von Rechenberg, Jörg A Auer, Michael O Hottiger
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  ABSTRACT: Gray horses spontaneously develop metastatic melanomas that resemble human disease, and this is often accompanied with metastasis to other organs. Unlike in other species, the establishment of primary equine melanoma cultures that could be used to develop new therapeutic approaches has remained a major challenge. The purpose of the study was to develop a protocol for routine isolation and cultivation of primary equine melanocytes. Melanoma tissues were excised from 13 horses under local anesthesia, mainly from the perianal area. The melanoma cells were isolated from the melanoma tissue by serial enzymatic digestion using dispase and collagenase. Out of the 13 excised melanomas, cell cultures from eight melanomas were established, which corresponded to a success rate 62%. These cells showed different degrees of melanin pigmentation. Characterization of these cells using confocal microscopy, FACs analysis and western blotting showed that they expressed melanoma-associated antigens; Melan-A, MAGE-1, and MAGE-3, and PCNA expression was higher in fast-proliferating isolates. The protocol we developed and established proved successful for routine isolation and cultivation of primary equine melanoma cells. This method provided a large number of primary equine melanoma cells that could be used to study new therapeutic approaches for treatment of equine melanomas.
  In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal 01/2009; 45(3-4):152-62. · 1.31 Impact Factor
• Article: Comparison of the trimming procedure of six different farriers by quantitative evaluation of hoof radiographs.

  Martin Kummer, Diego Gygax, Christoph Lischer, Jörg Auer
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  ABSTRACT: Hoof preparation and shoe fit are integral to the long term soundness and athletic ability of horses. The farrier influences the balance of the hoof by both the trimming and the shoeing procedure. The goal of this study was to investigate and quantify the influence of the farrier on hoof parameters by trimming. Forty Warmblood horses ranging in age from 6-12 years and withers height 162-172cm were included. They were divided into six groups consisting of six or seven horses each, shod by one of six different farriers. The hoofs of the horses were radiographed twice using a standardised method before and after trimming. Measurements were taken from digitalised radiographs using a software program. Significant differences were identified between farriers for almost all parameters on the lateromedial radiographic views after two consecutive trimming procedures. Comparing the results of both trimming procedures, significant differences for several farriers were found in the lateromedial and dorsopalmar views. There were significant differences for most of the measured hoof parameters between the six farriers and between consecutive trimmings of the same farrier. The results underline the individual influence of the farrier on hoof shape and balance.
  The Veterinary Journal 03/2008; 179(3):401-6. · 2.24 Impact Factor
• Article: In vivo behavior of calcium phosphate scaffolds with four different pore sizes.

  Marie-Cécile von Doernberg, Brigitte von Rechenberg, Marc Bohner, Sonja Grünenfelder, G Harry van Lenthe, Ralph Müller, Beat Gasser, Robert Mathys, Gamal Baroud, Jörg Auer
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  ABSTRACT: The goal of the present study was to assess the effect of macropore size on the in vivo behavior of ceramic scaffolds. For that purpose, beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) cylinders with four different macropore sizes (150, 260, 510, and 1220 microm) were implanted into drill hole defects in cancellous bone of sheep and their resorption behavior was followed for 6, 12 and 24 weeks. The scaffolds were evaluated for biocompatibility, and new bone formation was observed macroscopically, histologically and histomorphometrically. Histomorphometrical measurements were performed for the whole defect area and for the area subdivided into three concentric rings (outer, medial, and inner ring). All implants were tolerated very well as evidenced by the low amount of inflammatory cells and the absence of macroscopic signs of inflammation. Resorption proceeded fast since less than 5% ceramic remained at 24-week implantation. Hardly any effect of macropore size was observed on the in vivo response. Samples with an intermediate macropore size (510 microm) were resorbed significantly faster than samples with smaller macropore sizes (150 and 260 microm). However, this fast resorption was associated with a lower bone content and a higher soft tissue content. At 12 and 24 weeks, the latter differences had disappeared. Bone was more abundant in the outer ring than in the rest of the blocks at 6 weeks, and in the outer and medial ring compared to the inner ring at 12 weeks.
  Biomaterials 11/2006; 27(30):5186-98. · 7.40 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: metron-imaging.com

  Article: The effect of hoof trimming on radiographic measurements of the front feet of normal Warmblood horses.

  Martin Kummer, Hans Geyer, Isabel Imboden, Jörg Auer, Christoph Lischer
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  ABSTRACT: The understanding of the normal position of the third phalanx (P3) and the distal sesamoid bone in relation to the size and shape of the hoof capsule in sound horses is helpful in the diagnosis of equine foot lameness. Some measurements on radiographs used to define the position of the pedal bone within the hoof capsule are significantly influenced by hoof trimming and the height of the withers. In this study, the front hooves of 40 Warmblood horses were radiographed twice, eight weeks apart, both before and after their hooves were trimmed by an experienced farrier. Using the software programme Metron PX, 22 parameters on the lateromedial view and 16 parameters on the dorsopalmar view were measured and the effect of hoof trimming and height of the withers were calculated, respectively. Some of the hoof parameters showed mild positive correlation with the height of the withers. In 70% of the horses the left hoof capsule and P3 were significantly larger than the right. Hoof trimming had a remarkable influence on hoof conformation, especially for parameters in the toe region. Of all the measurements that describe the position of the third phalanx (P3) in relation to the hoof capsule, the distances between the distal tip of P3 to the solar surface of the foot, P3 to the tip of the toe and P3 to the point of break-over showed the greatest differences before and after trimming. The database of the present study can be used by farriers and veterinarians as a guideline for routine and corrective shoeing of Warmblood horses.
  The Veterinary Journal 08/2006; 172(1):58-66. · 2.24 Impact Factor
• Article: The effect of cartilage and bone density of mushroom-shaped, photooxidized, osteochondral transplants: an experimental study on graft performance in sheep using transplants originating from different species

  Anja Waselau, Daniel Nadler, Jessika Müller, Katalin Zlinszky, Monika Hilbe, Jörg Auer, von Rechenberg Brigitte
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract Background Differences in overall performance of osteochondral photooxidized grafts were studied in accordance of their species origin and a new, more rigorous cleansing procedure using alcohol during preparation. Methods Photooxidized mushroom-shaped grafts of bovine, ovine, human and equine origin were implanted in the femoral condyles of 32 sheep (condyles: n = 64). No viable chondrocytes were present at the time of implantation. Grafts were evaluated at 6 months using plastic embedded sections of non-decalcified bone and cartilage specimens. Graft incorporation, the formation of cyst-like lesions at the base of the cartilage junction as well as cartilage morphology was studied qualitatively, semi-quantitatively using a score system and quantitatively by performing histomorphometrical measurements of percentage of bone and fibrous tissue of the original defects. For statistical analysis a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA- test) was applied. Results Differences of graft performance were found according to species origin and cleansing process during graft preparation. According to the score system cartilage surface integrity was best for equine grafts, as well as dislocation or mechanical stability. The equine grafts showed the highest percentage for bone and lowest for fibrous tissue, resp. cystic lesions. The new, more rigorous cleansing process decreased cartilage persistence and overall graft performance. Conclusion Performance of grafts from equine origin was better compared to bovine, ovine and human grafts. The exact reason for this difference was not proven in the current study, but could be related to differences in density of cartilage and subchondral bone between species.
  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 01/2005;