Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
16 t h International Congress on Animal <strong>Reproduction</strong><br />
Poster Abstracts 109<br />
M<strong>in</strong>iature mares are a potential mo<strong>de</strong>l for comparative studies <strong>in</strong><br />
folliculogenesis with<strong>in</strong> and among species.<br />
P244<br />
The effect of <strong>in</strong>terval from mat<strong>in</strong>g to ovulation on<br />
pregnancy rates and <strong>in</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>nce of <strong>in</strong>tra-uter<strong>in</strong>e fluid <strong>in</strong> the<br />
mare<br />
Newcombe, JR 1 *; Cuervo-Arango, J 2<br />
1Equ<strong>in</strong>e Fertility Unit, Warren house farm, Brownhills, UK; 2 Royal Veter<strong>in</strong>ary<br />
College, Department of Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Science, University of London, UK<br />
Introduction Persistent mat<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>in</strong>duced endometritis (PMIE) is<br />
known to be one of the ma<strong>in</strong> factors affect<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy rates <strong>in</strong> the<br />
mare. There has been extensive research on causes and treatments of<br />
PMIE, however the <strong>in</strong>terval from mat<strong>in</strong>g to ovulation (IMO) has<br />
never been consi<strong>de</strong>red as a possible factor affect<strong>in</strong>g the outcome of<br />
PMIE and pregnancy rates. It is thought that natural cover is best<br />
performed close to ovulation (0-48 h prior to ovulation) <strong>in</strong> or<strong>de</strong>r to<br />
achieve optimum pregnancy rates. However, to date it is not known<br />
whether mat<strong>in</strong>g “problem mares” at that <strong>in</strong>terval will be <strong>de</strong>trimental<br />
for pregnancy rates (PR). The objectives of this study were: a) to<br />
assess the effect of IMO on PR and on the <strong>in</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>nce of <strong>in</strong>tra-uter<strong>in</strong>e<br />
fluid (IUF) 72 h post-mat<strong>in</strong>g (PM); and b) to <strong>de</strong>term<strong>in</strong>e the effect of<br />
free IUF 72 h PM on PR.<br />
Material and methods A total of 439 cycles from 315 Thoroughbred<br />
mares were analysed. Mares were exam<strong>in</strong>ed by transrectal<br />
ultrasonography every other day until the mare was free from IUF (up<br />
to 96 h from mat<strong>in</strong>g). Pregnancy diagnosis was preformed by<br />
ultrasound 12-13 days post-ovulation and rechecked by 30 days. For<br />
each mare, age, date of mat<strong>in</strong>g, name of stallion used, number of<br />
services, IMO and <strong>de</strong>pth of IUF 72 h PM were recor<strong>de</strong>d. For data<br />
analysis, three groups of IMO were used (0-48, 48-96 and 96-144 h).<br />
A statistical general mo<strong>de</strong>l of analysis of variance was used to assess<br />
the effect of stallion, IMO, age and presence of IUF 72 h PM on PR.<br />
Chi-square test was used to analyse the association among IMO, PR<br />
and IUF 72 h PM.<br />
Results Stallion, age and IMO had no effect (P > 0.05) on overall (all<br />
services) PR. Pregnancy rates <strong>in</strong> mares with IUF 72 h PM was<br />
reduced by 17.7 % (P < 0.01). Mares mated at the <strong>in</strong>terval 0-48 h preovulation<br />
were more likely (P < 0.01) to have IUF 72 h PM than at<br />
48-96 and 96-144 h (68, 42 and 41 % respectively). Pregnancy rates<br />
on first service were (69.3, 73.3 and 68.4 % for <strong>in</strong>tervals 0-48, 48-96<br />
and 96-144 h respectively, P > 0.05). However, on second service (n =<br />
88 mares) they were lower (P < 0.05) <strong>in</strong> mares mated 0-48 h (54.5 %)<br />
than <strong>in</strong> those mated 48-96h before ovulation (79.1 %) .<br />
Conclusion Inci<strong>de</strong>nce of IUF 72 h PM is highest <strong>in</strong> mares mated 0-48<br />
h before ovulation. Mat<strong>in</strong>g 0-48 h before ovulation is <strong>de</strong>trimental for<br />
PR <strong>in</strong> mares which failed to conceive <strong>in</strong> first service. It appears that <strong>in</strong><br />
“problem mares” with <strong>de</strong>layed uter<strong>in</strong>e clearance, a longer IMO gives<br />
the mare an “extra” time to clear the uter<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>flammation before the<br />
cervix closes un<strong>de</strong>r progesterone <strong>in</strong>fluence.<br />
P245<br />
Apoptotic markers can be used to forecast the<br />
freezeability of stallion spermatozoa<br />
Ortega Ferrusola, C 1 *, Gallardo Bolaños, JM 1 , Gonzalez Fernan<strong>de</strong>z, L 2 ,<br />
Rodriguez-Mart<strong>in</strong>ez, H 3 , Tapia, JA 2 , Pena, FJ 1<br />
1<strong>Reproduction</strong>, University of Extremadura, Spa<strong>in</strong>; 2 Physiology, University of<br />
Extremadura, Spa<strong>in</strong>; 3 <strong>Reproduction</strong>, SLU, Swe<strong>de</strong>n<br />
In an attempt to i<strong>de</strong>ntify valuable markers for potential freezeability<br />
of the equ<strong>in</strong>e spermatozoa, three ejaculates were collected from five<br />
Andalusian stallions and frozen us<strong>in</strong>g a standard protocol. Before<br />
freez<strong>in</strong>g, three apoptotic cell markers were studied by flow cytometry<br />
(early changes <strong>in</strong> sperm membranes, mitochondrial membrane<br />
potential and caspase activity). Post-thaw, spermatozoa were aga<strong>in</strong><br />
evaluated for these parameters and for sperm k<strong>in</strong>ematics us<strong>in</strong>g CASA.<br />
Receiv<strong>in</strong>g operat<strong>in</strong>g system curves were used to evaluate the relative<br />
value of the apoptotic markers here<strong>in</strong> studied, as forecast for potential<br />
freezeability. From all parameters studied, the outcome of JC-1 (as<br />
proportion of spermatozoa show<strong>in</strong>g simultaneously orange and green<br />
fluorescence) had the highest diagnostic power. For potentially bad<br />
freezers (less than 25% of <strong>in</strong>tact spermatozoa post-thaw), the<br />
significant area un<strong>de</strong>r the ROC-curve was 0.985, with a 100%<br />
sensitivity and 99.8% specificity for a cut off value of 55.7.<br />
P246<br />
Effect of altrenogest-treatment <strong>in</strong> late pregnant-mares on<br />
parturition, neonatal adaptation and adrenocortical<br />
function <strong>in</strong> new-born foals<br />
Palm, F 2 *; Neuhauser, S 1 ; Ambuehl, F 1 ; Moestl, E 3 ; Aurich, C 1<br />
1Centre for Artificial Insem<strong>in</strong>ation and Embryo Transfer; 2 Cl<strong>in</strong>ic for Obstetrics,<br />
Gynaecology and Andrology; 3 Institute for Biochemistry, University of Vet.<br />
Sciences, Vienna, Austria<br />
In mares with compromised pregnancies, treatment with the synthetic<br />
gestagen altrenogest (allyltrenbolon) is common to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> gestation<br />
until term. However, there are no controlled studies on the effects of<br />
altrenogest adm<strong>in</strong>istration dur<strong>in</strong>g late pregnancy on parturition and<br />
<strong>de</strong>velopment of the foals <strong>in</strong> the immediate postpartum period. In our<br />
study, pony mares with normal pregnancies were treated with<br />
altrenogest (0.088 mg/kg bwt; n=6) from day 280 of gestation until<br />
spontaneous parturition or were left untreated as controls (n=7).<br />
Stages of labour and cl<strong>in</strong>ical parameters were analysed and blood<br />
samples were collected from immediately after birth until 48 hours<br />
post natum for analysis of cortisol concentration, haematolgical and<br />
acid base parameters. In or<strong>de</strong>r to assess adrenocortical function, an<br />
ACTH stimulation test with 0.125 mg ACTH (Synacthen, Novartis)<br />
was performed on days 1 and 5 after birth and cortisol release<br />
calculated as area un<strong>de</strong>r the curve for the time period 0 to 120 m<strong>in</strong><br />
after cortisol <strong>in</strong>jection. Altrenogest-treated mares ten<strong>de</strong>d to have a<br />
shorter gestation length (320±4 days) than control mares (327±2 days)<br />
and showed a prolonged second stage of labour (p