Common Peripartum Problems in the Mare

Reproductive problems in the perinatal period can adversely affect a mare's future fertility or, worse, may be life threatening to her or her foal. A number of abnormalities can occur, including uterine torsion, uterine artery or uterine hemorrhage, retained fetal membranes, metritis, rectovaginal injuries, and necrotic vaginitis. Because hemorrhage, retained placenta, metritis, and necrotic vaginitis can happen after a normal delivery or after dystocia, all mares should be monitored closely in the first days after parturition for signs of lethargy, depression, colic, sore feet, or anorexia. Methods for diagnosing, managing, and treating these conditions and the possible complications are discussed.     

Maternal obesity stimulates lipotoxicity and up‐regulates inflammatory signaling pathways in the full‐term swine placenta

This study aimed to investigate the effects of back‐fat thickness (BF), at mating of sows, on placental lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We performed iTRAQ labeling‐based proteomic analysis on term placentas obtained by vaginal delivery from BFI (15–20 mm, control) and BFII (21–27 mm, obese) sows formed according to BF at mating. Proteomic analysis revealed 413 proteins to be significantly different in placenta from BFII sows by ≥1.2‐fold. Gene ontology (GO) analysis identified proteins related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response to be altered in placenta from obese sows. Indicative of a lipotoxic placental environment, increased placental lipid, and up‐regulated mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, including ADRP (p = .06), PPARD, FASN, ACACA, DGAT1, and LIPIN3, were associated with decreased AMPK and increased activation of WNT signaling in placenta from BFII group (p < .05). Furthermore, we observed a 18% decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), increased mRNA content of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6, IL‐18, and TNF‐α, and increased activation of inflammatory NF‐κB and JNK signaling in placenta from BFII sows that was significantly associated with macrophage accumulation (p < .05). These findings suggest that maternal obesity aggravates a lipotoxic environment in pig term placenta that may be associated with placental dysfunction and impaired fetal growth.     

猪胎盘特异基因1(PLAC1)的克隆、组织表达及遗传方式研究

旨在研究猪胎盘特异性基因PLAC1的表达规律,并对其基因结构、生物功能和遗传方式进行初步鉴定。本研究以妊娠26、50和95天的猪胎盘组织为材料,利用RACE-PCR及RT-PCR技术克隆猪PLAC1基因及其不同转录本的全长序列,同时通过原位杂交验证其在胎盘中的表达模式。并检测猪PLAC1基因的序列变异。结果表明,猪PLAC1基因存在3种不同的转录本,3种转录本的CDS区完全相同,长525bp,编码174个氨基酸;组织表达谱和原位杂交结果显示,PLAC1基因特异性表达于猪胎盘绒毛膜上皮细胞中,并在不同妊娠时期差异表达,妊娠50和95天PLAC1mRNA的表达显著高于妊娠26天(P<0.01)。猪群中PLAC1基因的SNP基因分型检测结果表明该基因遵循半合基因的遗传方式。本试验结果为研究猪PLAC1基因在胎盘发育过程中的生物功能奠定了基础。     

Equine placenta – A clinician's perspective. Part 1: Normal placenta – Physiology and evaluation

A complex organ, the equine placenta is responsible for fetal nourishment, protection from external and internal insults, and the production and/or metabolisation of various hormones. The endometrial cups are unique structures of the equine placenta that are responsible for producing an essential hormone for equine pregnancy, equine chorionic gonadotropin. Since mares have epitheliochorial placentae, with 6 layers of tissue separating maternal from fetal circulation, almost the entire surface of the chorioallantois must be attached to the maternal endometrium in order to support a developing fetus adequately. The only avillous areas of the normal chorioallantois are: the cervical star, sites of the endometrial cups, areas facing oviductal papillae, folds overlying major allantoic vessels, and fetal foot PADs (placental areas of degeneration). There are characteristic differences between the gravid and the nongravid horn of the chorioallantois. Allantoic vesicles, allantoic pouches, hippomanes, amniotic plaques and yolk sac remnants are normal features of the equine placenta. The clinician should thoroughly examine the entire placenta immediately after its expulsion. The most important aspect of this evaluation is to check for completeness of the chorioallantois, along with identifying any pathological lesions on the fetal membranes or the umbilical cord.     

高原牦牛胎盘营养成分的测定与分析

对生活在青藏高原(海拔4 500 m以上)的牦牛孕期胎盘的营养成分进行了测定.结果表明,牦牛胎盘中的17种氡基酸和11种微量元素的含量与人胎盘(紫河车)、鹿胎盘相当,说明牦牛胎盘有一定的药用价值.     

牦牛不同妊娠阶段孕酮的主要来源器官研究

为明确牦牛不同妊娠阶段孕酮的来源，分别对53头不同妊娠阶段牦牛的黄体组织、肾上腺组织和胎盘组织进行体外细胞培养，同时对44头牦牛的上述组织进行匀浆处理，采用放射免疫分析法（RIA）测定培养液及组织匀浆上清液中孕酮的含量。结果显示，黄体细胞在体外培养时，妊娠前2个月内孕酮分泌量显著升高（P〈0．05）：妊娠2-5个月，培养液中孕酮含量变化不明显（P〉0．05），但在妊娠5个月以后，其浓度又开始显著增加（P〈0．01）。肾上腺组织体外培养时，分泌孕酮的能力随不同个体差别较大，孕酮浓度在整个妊娠期变化不明显（P〉0．05）。胎盘组织体外培养时仅分泌少量孕酮，且在整个妊娠期其浓度变化不明显。黄体组织匀浆上清液中孕酮浓度在妊娠前2个月内呈上升趋势（P〈0．05），之后其浓度开始下降，至妊娠第4个月时下降到最低水平，以后又逐渐上升（P〈0．05），妊娠6-7个月时达到峰值，临近分娩时，又下降至较低水平。肾上腺组织匀浆中孕酮含量的变化差异较大，且无明显的变化趋势，胎盘组织匀浆中孕酮的含量也很低，甚至检测不到。结果表明，黄体是牦牛整个妊娠期孕酮的主要来源器官。     

Abnormal umbilical cord attachment sites in the mare: A review illustrated by three case reports

Abnormal cord attachment can be a manifestation of an inappropriate fixation position of the conceptus in the uterus, or it may result from disorientation of the conceptus post fixation. The potential for this resulting in fetal and neonatal compromise is reviewed in the light of previous reports and to which 3 cases within the authors' experience are added.     

The Effect of Manual Removal of Placenta Immediately after Foaling on Subsequent Fertility Parameters in the Mare

Retained placenta is considered to be a common problem in postpartum mares. The incidence varies from 6% to 54% depending on the breed, with higher incidence in heavy draught mares than in light-weight mares. Retained placenta has been linked to lower postpartum oxytocin concentration, impaired uterine involution, and dystocia. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of early manual removal of placenta immediately postpartum on subsequent fertility parameters (development of free intrauterine fluid, inflammatory status of endometrium, and on pregnancy rates) and to compare them with mares with spontaneous expulsion of placenta. A total of 29 mares, mainly Irish draught, were closely monitored during foaling by closed circuit television and allocated to two groups: (1) mares that expelled the placenta spontaneously within 3 hours of foaling; and (2) mares that were cleansed manually immediately after foal delivery. All mares were examined and scanned 5 and 9 days postpartum, and free intrauterine fluid was recorded; endometrial swabs were taken 9 days postpartum for endometrial cytology and culture. None of the fertility parameters analyzed showed statistical difference between groups 1 and 2. Therefore, it can be concluded that early manual removal of placenta has no detrimental effects on subsequent fertility of mares and, therefore, can be recommended when a veterinarian attends a foaling.     

Use of amnion and placenta in neonatal screening for canine GM1-gangliosidosis and the risk of diagnostic misclassifications

BACKGROUND: A closed breeding colony of Shiba dogs with GM1-gangliosidosis is maintained at Hokkaido University (Sapporo, Japan). Neonatal genotyping is essential to control the breeding colony genetically as an animal model for the human disease. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to determine the utility of amnion and placenta in the neonatal screening or diagnosis for canine GM1-gangliosidosis. METHODS: Twenty neonatal Shiba dogs of a pedigree with GM1- gangliosidosis were differentiated into 3 genotypes--normal, heterozygous, and affected dogs--by using a previously reported DNA mutation assay. Acid beta-galactosidase activity was measured in amnion and placenta and compared among the 3 genotypes. RESULTS: The level of beta-galactosidase activity in the amnion of affected dogs was negligible and <2% of the mean activity in normal dogs; there was no significant difference among the 3 genotypes. In placenta, beta-galactosidase activity was significantly different among all the genotypes; however, there was wide overlap in enzyme activity between normal and heterozygous dogs. The level of activity in affected dogs was relatively high and >10% of the mean activity in normal dogs. The DNA mutation assay gave correct information about genotype with genomic DNA extracted from amnion but ambiguous information with DNA from placenta. CONCLUSIONS: Amnion and placenta were not useful as enzyme sources in neonatal screening in canine GM1-gangliosidosis because of the risk of misdiagnosis. DNA from amnion is applicable as a template for genotyping, whereas placenta should not be used because canine placenta contains maternal cells.