Biometric parameters of the uterus and ovaries in sheep after administration of Depotocin inj. Spofa in early puerperium]

Objectivisation of the physiological course of puerpery and control of involution processes of uterus represent topical questions of an increased frequency of lambing. Our study was directed at the determination of the weight, length of body and horns of uterus as well as of the weight, length, width and height of ovaries, following the administration of carbetocin (Depotocin inj. Spofa), in the puerperal period of Slovak Merino sheep. The study was aimed at obtaining objective biometric data on uterus and ovaries and recording the influence of carbetocin on the involution of uterus and ovaries of sheep. Thirty ewes, divided into two groups, were included in the experiment. The animals of the experimental group (n = 15) were subjected to treatment with carbetocin (Depotocin inj. Spofa) at the amount 2 x 0.07 mg. The first dose was applied intramuscularly (i. m.) on the 2nd day after parturition and the second dose was injected subcutaneously (s.c.) on the 4th day after lambing. The second group (n = 15) served as a control. Three ewes (n = 3) were bled on each of the following days: 1, 7, 17, 25 and 34 after parturition. After bleeding the sexual organs were removed by excision and their weight and the length of the body and horns of uterus and of ovaries was determined. The number and size of follicles were determined on the surface of ovaries. The weight of uterus body showed a declining tendency in sheep of the control group with a statistically significant decrease from the 17th till the 34th day after parturition (P less than 0.01). Its weight varied from 56.0-14.6 to 5.2-0.3 g in the above-mentioned time interval. The experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in weight as early as on the 7th day after lambing compared to the 1st day after parturition, down to the values 185.66-38.91 g (P less than 0.05). The decrease in the weight of uterus body recorded on day 17 (106.56-41.08 g) was less pronounced than in the control group. The final average weight of the body of uterus on the 34th day after parturition was 41.36-8.52 g, that means higher than in the control group (5.2-0.3 g). The weight of gravid horns in the experimental group declined significantly as early as on the 7th day after parturition to the average weight of 60.89-9.45 g and reached 9.86-3.49 g on the 34th day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Biometric parameters of the uterus, ovaries and levels of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) after delivery in sheep

Biometric changes of uterus, ovaries, follicles and 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) concentrations were investigated in 15 lambing ewes of the Slovak Merino breed in the puerperal period. The sex organs were excised immediately after bleeding from ewes slaughtered on days 1, 7, 17, 25 and 34 post partum (p. p.). Biometric parameters of the body and horns of uterus were measured by a calliper. The ovaries were weighed on an analytical balance, their length, width and height were measured at the same time. The size and number of follicles were determined on the ovary surface. The blood for E2 detection was collected from vena jugularis three and one day before delivery (days -1, -3). Blood samples were also collected after delivery on days 1, 7, 17, 25 and 34. E2 concentrations in the blood serum of ewes were determined by RIA-test-ESTRA kits, designed in one institute at Kosice. The highest weight of uterus body in the test ewes was recorded on day 1 p. p. In the following days the weight of uterus body had a decreasing trend. There were significant differences in the weight of uterus body from day 17 to day 34 p. p., in comparison with the first day after lambing (P less than 0.01). A significant decrease in the length of uterus body was observed from day 17 to day 34 of observation (P less than 0.01; P less than 0.001). An increase in the length of a nongravid horn, observed on day 7 p. p., was followed by a gradual decrease until day 34, similarly like in its weight. No statistically significant differences were found out in the ovary length, width and height. Neither were any greater changes recorded in the weight of ovaries from day 1 to day 34 after delivery. The highest number of small structures (28) observed on day 7 p. p. in the ipsilateral ovary was decreasing in the course of puerperium and the number of follicles larger than 2, 4 and 5 mm was increasing. The highest concentrations of E2 were not recorded on day -1 before delivery. The significantly lowest concentrations of E2 were recorded on day 25 p. p. The above-mentioned results are preliminary and they enlarge the knowledge of biometric parameters of uterus, ovaries, follicles and E2 concentrations after delivery in ewes.     

Immunity and inflammation in the uterus

Microbes often infect the uterus and particularly the endometrium of animals. Infections are most commonly associated with natural service, pregnancy and the post-partum period, leading to inflammation with the elaboration of cytokines, chemokines and prostaglandins. Clinical diseases such as metritis, endometritis and abortion are important causes of infertility. The adaptive immune response to infection has been characterized previously, so the present review aims to highlight the emerging role for innate immunity in the endometrium. The detection of microbes and the innate immune response depends on the detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by pattern recognition receptors. The main families of pattern recognition receptors are Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptors, retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptors and C-type lectin receptors. These receptors are most often expressed by hematopoietic cells, but the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium also possess functional receptors. For example, endometrial cells express TLR4 for recognition of the lipopolysaccharide endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria, leading to secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and prostaglandin E(2) . It is likely that the epithelial and stromal cells provide a first line of defence in the endometrium to alert hematopoietic cells to the presence of microbes within the uterus.     

Histogenesis of the ovine uterus

Reproductive tracts from fetal (d 55 to 150) and neonatal (d 9 to 3 mo) lambs were examined by light microscopy in order to describe ovine uterine histogenesis. Morphologically, d-55 and -60 fetal uteri were bipartite, though characteristic external cornual morphology was not apparent until d 100 to 110. Histologically, lumina of d-55 and -60 fetal uteri were tubular and smooth with no indication of caruncular or glandular areas. In d-90 to -100 fetal uteri, luminal clefts were visible along the mucosal surface and a band of eosinophilic, elongated, smooth muscle-like cells was distinguishable. By d 100 to 110, nodular and internodular areas were clearly defined as luminal clefts deepened. Expansion of deep internodular areas, parallel to the luminal nodular surface, progressed in fetal uteri from d 118 to 150. Slight invaginations along deep internodular areas were visible in d-135 fetal uteri and were regular features of d-150 fetal uteri. In contrast, shallow, slightly coiled simple tubular glands were visible in the endometrium of internodular (intercaruncular) areas in a d-9 neonatal uterus. Older neonatal uteri (d 26 to 3 mo) contained coiled tubular glands which extended to the myometrium. Data indicate a systematic pattern of ovine uterine histogenesis involving dynamic morphogenetic alterations, especially between d 80 to 130 of fetal life. The observation that uterine glands were absent in fetal uteri but present in neonatal uteri suggests that glandular induction must occur during the periparturiet/neonatal period.