Presence of a Temperature Gradient Among Genital Tract Portions and the Thermal Changes Within These Portions Over the Estrous Cycle in Beef Cows

The aim of the present study was to describe the temperature of the different portions of the female genital tract and their relation to rectal temperature and to investigate the effect of steroid hormones profiles on these variables over the estrous cycle in cattle. Four nonpregnant Japanese Black cows were investigated daily over two successive estrous cycles using a digital thermometer with a long probe and rounded-end sensor to record the temperature of the rectum (RT), vagina (VT), cervix (CT), uterine body (UBT) and uterine horns (UHT). Blood samples were collected immediately before temperature recording to assay peripheral levels of progesterone (P₄) and estradiol-17β (E₂). Moreover, transrectal ultrasonography was carried out after temperature recording to monitor the ovulatory follicle and track ovulation. During the experiment, the ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded for further calculation of the temperature humidity index (THI). The temperature within the genital tracts in these cows progressively increased towards the uterine horns from the vagina. The VT, CT, UBT and UHTs were significantly higher in association with peripheral P₄ concentrations greater than 4 ng/ml (mid-luteal phase) when compared with lower peripheral P₄ concentrations. The VT was more significantly (P<0.01) correlated to the CT, UBT and UHTs than RT. In conclusion, a temperature gradient was present among the vagina, cervix and uterus over the estrous cycle, and changes in peripheral P₄ concentrations were associated with the thermal variations within these portions. The VT could be more beneficial than RT in monitoring temperature of deeper portions of the female genital tract in bovine.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征弱毒苗阴道免疫对母猪子宫IgA和IgG分泌细胞的影响

用猪繁殖与呼吸综合征 (PRRS) 弱毒苗分别通过生殖道黏膜免疫和肌肉注射免疫母猪 (各 4头 ), 另 4头经生殖道接种生理盐水作为对照, 运用免疫组化技术显示子宫局部IgA分泌细胞和IgG分泌细胞的分布。结果表明, 对照组子宫中IgA分泌细胞和IgG分泌细胞主要分布于黏膜固有层浅层, 子宫颈中的IgA分泌细胞数量多于子宫角, 而子宫角中IgG分泌细胞数量多于子宫颈。生殖道免疫后, 与对照组相比, 子宫角IgA分泌细胞数量极显著增多 (P<0 01), 子宫颈IgA分泌细胞数量无显著增加; 子宫角IgG分泌细胞数量有所增加, 但差异不显著, 子宫颈IgG分泌细胞数量无显著变化。肌肉注射后, 子宫中IgA和IgG抗体分泌细胞数量与对照组间无明显变化。表明用PRRS弱毒苗经生殖道黏膜免疫可增加子宫局部抗体分泌细胞数量, 而全身免疫对子宫抗体分泌细胞无显著影响。