Your Horse’s Cartilage Has Bling

Intramitochondrial crystals could be related to horse joints’ ability to withstand mechanical stress, scientists say.
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Austrian and German researchers say these intramitochondrial crystals are unique: So far, horses are the only species found to have crystals in their cartilage cell mitochondria. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Dirk Barnewitz
Within the rubberlike cartilage that helps pad and protect your horse’s joints are tons of specialized cells and nutrients. Oh, and crystals—microscopic protein crystals, that is.

While these crystals might not have the same financial value as precious stone crystals, they do appear to have significant mechanical value to the horse. These crystals exist in equine cartilage cells’ mitochondria—responsible for each cell’s energy production and respiration—and they can grow so big that they stretch the mitochondria’s size, sometimes to the length of the entire cell.

Austrian and German researchers say these intramitochondrial crystals are unique: So far, horses are the only species found to have crystals in their cartilage cell mitochondria. And this, they said, could be related to horse joints’ exceptional capacity to withstand great levels of mechanical stress.

“At the moment we do not have any indication that there is a pathologic relation or harmful influence causing these protein aggregations, and the investigated horses were absolutely healthy,” said Dirk Barnewitz, DrMedVet, of the Research Centre for Medical Technics and Biotechnology, in Bad Langensalza, Germany

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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