Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
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16 t h International Congress on Animal <strong>Reproduction</strong><br />
112 Poster Abstracts<br />
P254<br />
Effect of impaired uter<strong>in</strong>e dra<strong>in</strong>age via cervix <strong>in</strong> normal<br />
mares after <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
Re<strong>in</strong>e, E 1 *; Reilas, T 2 ; Rivera Del Alamo, M 3 ; Katila, T 4<br />
1Faculty of Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Latvian University of Agriculture, Latvia;<br />
2Equ<strong>in</strong>e Research, MTT Agrifood Research F<strong>in</strong>land, F<strong>in</strong>land; 3 Faculty of<br />
Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spa<strong>in</strong>; 4 Faculty of<br />
Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e, University of Hels<strong>in</strong>ki, F<strong>in</strong>land<br />
Introduction In normal mares, the acute endometrial <strong>in</strong>flammation<br />
caused by artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation (AI) peaks around 8 h and subsi<strong>de</strong>s<br />
appreciably with<strong>in</strong> 24 h after AI. In mares susceptible to endometritis,<br />
<strong>in</strong>flammation and <strong>in</strong>fection may persist because of reduced<br />
myometrial contractions. The necessity of a patent cervix has been<br />
recognized, and manual dilatation of the cervix has been used to aid<br />
evacuation of fluid collections. The roles of lymhatic dra<strong>in</strong>age and<br />
dra<strong>in</strong>age through an open cervix warrant further <strong>in</strong>vestigations.<br />
Objective To exam<strong>in</strong>e the role of the cervix <strong>in</strong> uter<strong>in</strong>e dra<strong>in</strong>age, a<br />
balloon-tipped catheter was used to impaire uter<strong>in</strong>e dra<strong>in</strong>age via<br />
cervix. Numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were<br />
evaluated after AI <strong>in</strong> 3 treatments: A) AI, catheter closed for 25 h, B)<br />
AI, catheter closed for 6 + 19 h, and C) AI, no <strong>in</strong>tracervical catheter.<br />
Methods Twenty-n<strong>in</strong>e cl<strong>in</strong>ically normal mares were assigned to 4<br />
groups and followed through 5 oestrus cycles. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the first, third<br />
and fifth oestrus, the uterus was swabbed. In the second and fourth<br />
oestrus, the mares were treated <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g or<strong>de</strong>r: group1) CA,<br />
group 2) AC, group 3) CB, and group 4) BC. AI dose was 500 x 10 6<br />
progressively motile sperm exten<strong>de</strong>d with skim milk (20 ml, pooled<br />
semen from 2 stallions). In treatments A and B, clamped catheters<br />
were <strong>in</strong>serted immediately after AI. Uter<strong>in</strong>e fluids were collected<br />
either us<strong>in</strong>g a tampon 25 h after AI <strong>in</strong> C (tampon fluid TF) or by<br />
dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g fluid from the catheter at 25 h <strong>in</strong> A, and at 6 and 25 h <strong>in</strong> B<br />
(catheter fluid CF). Oxytoc<strong>in</strong> was <strong>in</strong>jected i.v. to aid fluid dra<strong>in</strong>age. At<br />
25 h, the uterus was lavaged us<strong>in</strong>g 500 ml of R<strong>in</strong>ger’s solution (lavage<br />
fluid LF). PMNs were counted us<strong>in</strong>g a Bürker chamber.<br />
Results In the second oestrus, at 25 h after AI, PMN concentrations<br />
(10 6 /ml) were similar <strong>in</strong> treatments A and B (CF-A: 73.2 ± 8.4, CF-B:<br />
66.3 ± 19.9, LF-A: 2.4 ± 0.4, LF-B: 2.4 ± 0.8), and lower <strong>in</strong> treatment<br />
C (TF-group 1: 3.8 ± 0.5, TF-group 3: 2.9 ± 0.4). In the fourth oestrus,<br />
PMN numbers <strong>in</strong> treatment C were 10 times higher than dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
second oestrus (TF-group 2: 27.7 ± 4.2, TF-group 4: 31.1 ± 12.5). In<br />
treatments A and B, PMNs were only slightly elevated compared to<br />
values <strong>in</strong> the second oestrus (CF-A: 143.3 ± 17.3, CF-B: 97.9 ± 16.7).<br />
PMNs <strong>in</strong> LF between treatments did not differ. Dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the uterus at<br />
6 h had no effect on PMN numbers <strong>in</strong> CF 19 h later. Swabs were<br />
negative for bacterial endometritis.<br />
Conclusion Impaired cervical dra<strong>in</strong>age seemed to have a profound<br />
effect on uter<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>flammation show<strong>in</strong>g the important role of the<br />
cervix.<br />
P255<br />
Serum aldosterone concentrations <strong>in</strong> Spanish Purebred<br />
mares dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy<br />
Satué, K*; Dom<strong>in</strong>go, R<br />
Faculty of Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Car<strong>de</strong>nal Herrera-CEU University, Valencia,<br />
Spa<strong>in</strong><br />
Introduction The need to supply oxygen and nutrients to the<br />
fetoplacental unit and to counterbalance the effects <strong>in</strong>duced by the<br />
release of new gonadotropic hormones dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy requires<br />
important adjustments of all hormones <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the regulation of<br />
blood volume, hydration and electrolytic state, and therefore of blood<br />
pressure.<br />
Objectives The ma<strong>in</strong> purposes of this research were: 1) to establish<br />
reference ranges for serum aldosterone (ALD) concentrations <strong>in</strong><br />
Spanish Purebred mares; 2) to analyze pregnancy-related changes<br />
related to pregnancy <strong>in</strong> serum ALD concentrations and 3) to assess the<br />
effect of the age of the mare <strong>in</strong> serum ALD.<br />
Material and Methods Thirty-three Spanish Purebred broodmares,<br />
aged between 4 and 17 years were selected for this study. Jugular<br />
venous blood samples were taken every month dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy <strong>in</strong><br />
the morn<strong>in</strong>g. After withdrawal, blood was centrifuged and serum was<br />
harvested. Serum ALD concentrations were measured by competitive<br />
immunoassay.<br />
Results Mean serum ALD concentrations were 562.21 pg/ml, with<br />
maximum and m<strong>in</strong>imum values of 1936.77 and 101.50 pg/ml<br />
respectively. Mean values <strong>in</strong> the 1 st month of pregnancy were 628.79<br />
pg/dl, they dim<strong>in</strong>ished <strong>in</strong> the 2 nd month, when the m<strong>in</strong>imum mean<br />
values were achieved (346.09 pg/ml). In the 3 rd and 4 th months, serum<br />
ALD progressively <strong>in</strong>creased to reach maximum mean values <strong>in</strong> the<br />
5 th month (795.19 pg/ml). From this moment on, the mean values<br />
fluctuated without significant differences up to the partum, with<br />
means comprised between 458.59 and 658.17 pg/ml. No significant<br />
differences were <strong>de</strong>tected <strong>in</strong> relation to the age of the mares.<br />
Discussion The Spanish Purebred broodmares showed serum ALD<br />
concentrations higher than those <strong>de</strong>scribed for foals and adult horses<br />
of different breeds. Most of the studies have been carried out <strong>in</strong> sport<br />
horses and it is well known that the loss of Na <strong>in</strong> sweat leads to a<br />
compensatory release of ALD. Serum ALD concentrations <strong>in</strong>creased<br />
two to three-fold <strong>in</strong> pregnant women, bitches and laboratory animals.<br />
The ma<strong>in</strong> mechanisms <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>creased serum ALD<br />
concentrations dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy could be: release of ren<strong>in</strong> and<br />
angiotens<strong>in</strong> II, and changes <strong>in</strong> ACTH concentrations.<br />
Conclusions In conclusion, pregnancy <strong>in</strong> Spanish Purebred<br />
broodmares <strong>in</strong>duces a progressive <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> serum ALD<br />
concentrations. This f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g might imply a better conservation of Na<br />
and water <strong>in</strong> the kidneys <strong>in</strong> or<strong>de</strong>r to favor the expansion of the<br />
fetoplacental barrier. In this way, a suitable supply of nutrients and<br />
oxygen to the fetus as well as a correct blood pressure would be<br />
guaranteed, contribut<strong>in</strong>g to the <strong>in</strong>ternal homeostasis of the fetus and<br />
the mare. In addition, this result could be a consequence of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>teraction of several neuroendocr<strong>in</strong>e factors dur<strong>in</strong>g pregnancy.<br />
P256<br />
The duration of the effects of active immunization aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
GnRH to suppress ovarian activity <strong>in</strong> mares <strong>in</strong> South<br />
Africa<br />
Schulman, ML*; Botha, AE; Bertsch<strong>in</strong>ger, HJ; Guthrie, AJ<br />
Faculty of Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa<br />
Introduction A GnRH-vacc<strong>in</strong>e to suppress reproductive function was<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istered to a large group of horse mares. The effects of<br />
vacc<strong>in</strong>ation on ovarian activity were monitored over a period of one<br />
year us<strong>in</strong>g serum progesterone concentration (SPC).<br />
Methods Sixty five cyclic mares (age range: 3 to 24 years) were<br />
assigned randomly <strong>in</strong> the middle of the summer season to either a<br />
control (Group C, n = 10) or an experimental (Group E, n = 55)<br />
group, respectively. Both groups were subdivi<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong>to three age<br />
categories: Category 1 (3 to 5 years), Category 2 (6 to 14 years), and<br />
Category 3 (> 15 years). On Day 0, all mares were exam<strong>in</strong>ed by transrectal<br />
palpation and ultrasound to establish their reproductive status.<br />
Group E mares were <strong>in</strong>jected <strong>in</strong>tramuscularly with 2 mL of GnRHvacc<strong>in</strong>e<br />
(Improvac ® , Pfizer Laboratories, Sandton, SA). Group C<br />
mares similarly received an equal volume of sterile normal sal<strong>in</strong>e<br />
solution. The <strong>in</strong>jections were repeated on Day 35, and the cl<strong>in</strong>ical<br />
exam<strong>in</strong>ations on Days 35, 70 and 260. The last exam<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
correspon<strong>de</strong>d approximately with the onset of the follow<strong>in</strong>g summer<br />
season. Blood samples were collected at weekly <strong>in</strong>tervals from Day 0<br />
until Day 360 from all mares for SPC us<strong>in</strong>g a radioimmunoassay kit<br />
125<br />
(Progesterone Coat-a-Count, Diagnostic Products Corp, Los<br />
Angeles, CA, USA). As the SPC results correlated significantly with<br />
the cl<strong>in</strong>ical f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs, SPC alone was used to monitor ovarian activity<br />
from Day 260 until 360. All data was analyzed us<strong>in</strong>g NCSS software<br />
(Number Cruncher Statistical Systems, Kaysville, UT, USA) and a<br />
multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed the effects of<br />
treatment and age on cl<strong>in</strong>ical parameters and SPC. Values were<br />
consi<strong>de</strong>red to be statistically significant at P < 0.05.<br />
Results On Day 0, all Group C and E mares showed cl<strong>in</strong>ical evi<strong>de</strong>nce<br />
of ovarian activity. On Day 35, all Group C and 8 (14.5 %) Group E<br />
mares showed ovarian activity. The SPC results showed all Group E<br />
mares were non-cyclic by Day 56. On Day 70, exam<strong>in</strong>ation and SPC<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicated all Group C, and none of Group E mares showed ovarian