Study of the distribution of inflammatory cells in the sow endometrium: effect of intravenous administration of adrenocorticotropin hormone

Seventeen multiparous cross-bred sows (Swedish Land-race x Swedish Yorkshire) were inseminated in their second oestrus after weaning and divided into two groups. One group (ACTH, n = 9) was given an intravenous injection of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) every 6 h commencing 4-8 h after ovulation, whereas another group (control, n = 8) was given saline solution at the same times. The sows were slaughtered 35-53 h after ovulation. Uterine samples, taken from the mesometrial side of the uterine horns immediately after slaughter, were fixed, embedded in plastic resin and stained with toluidine blue. The endometrium was then examined by light microscopy. There was no significant effect of the ACTH treatment on the distribution of lymphocytes and macrophages, but there was a tendency of an effect on the distribution of neutrophils (P = 0.1) in the sow endometrium.