Is butyrate the cure-all?
Evaluation of production, effect and therapeutic potential in the equine colon
The equine digestive tract is a complex, highly sensitive ecosystem and a common cause of serious, sometimes life-threatening, conditions collectively known as “colic”. Nevertheless, only limited therapeutic options are available to prevent this disease or to improve the survival rate. As in humans, the microbial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract as an important factor for intestinal health has recently become the focus of attention in horses. The idea that a protective effect could emanate from the products of the resident bacteria (microbiota), and their metabolic products (short-chain fatty acids), is compelling.
​
What it's about:
Our project
Together with the students of the LFS Tullnerbach, the aim is to investigate how the microbiota of a healthy horse is composed, how it changes due to everyday influences and whether there is a connection between the SCFA produced and (intestinal) health. In addition, the effect of SCFA on the intestinal epithelium of the horse is to be investigated and possible therapeutic strategies derived from this. For this purpose, an organoid culture from the large intestine of the horse is used, i.e. a modern method with which a pathological situation can be simulated and researched while avoiding animal experiments.
​
project participants
project management
Scientific cooperation partner
Contact: Franziska.Dengler@vetmeduni.ac.at