Reproduction in horses encompasses the biological processes and mechanisms involved in the breeding and development of equine offspring. This includes the study of reproductive anatomy, physiology, and endocrinology in both mares and stallions. Key areas of interest include the estrous cycle, ovulation, conception, gestation, and parturition. Researchers also examine factors influencing fertility, reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer, and management practices that impact reproductive success. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological, genetic, and environmental aspects of equine reproduction.
Taverne MA, van der Weyden GC, Fontijne P, Dieleman SJ, Pashen RL, Allen WR.Uterine electromyography was performed by means of chronically implanted surface electrodes in 3 Pony mares during spontaneous oestrous cycles and following luteolysis induced by a prostaglandin analogue (fluprostenol). Three distinct patterns were recognized during the oestrous cycle. (1) During oestrus well defined phases of activity with closely grouped high-amplitude spikes were separated by long periods (10-45 min) of complete inactivity. (2) During dioestrus more diffuse phases of activity with low-amplitude spikes were separated by variable periods of relative inactivity. (3) During lut...
Barber SM.A case of uterine torsion in a mare with colic is described in which an early diagnosis was made and the torsion successfully reduced through a standing laparotomy with survival of both the mare and the foal. This case is used to stress the importance of thorough examination of all pregnant mares with colic in order to differentiate uterine torsion from other causes of abdominal pain, thereby avoiding delay in surgical correction and reducing the risk of fetal and/or maternal death. The advantages of the standing laparotomy are presented in support of this method of treatment of torsion of the...
Shupe JL, Leone NC, Olson AE, Gardner EJ.Investigation of hereditary multiple exostoses in horses under controlled research conditions for 10 years and epidemiologic studies that have spanned up to five generations of human families contain notable similarities. The present study demonstrated that a single dominant autosomal gene is responsible for hereditary multiple exostoses in horses and man. Affected individuals transmit this trait to approximately 50% of their progeny, whereas nonaffected individuals do not transmit the condition to their offspring. The tumors in affected horses are most often present at birth. They tend to be ...
Valdez H, Taylor TS, McLaughlin SA, Martin MT.Removal of abdominal testes was accomplished in 32 horses ranging in age from 6 to 72 months. Twenty were unilateral and 12 were bilateral abdominal cryptorchids. An incision was made over the superficial inguinal ring, and the extension of the gubernaculum testis was identified and grasped with forceps. Traction was applied to this structure until the vaginal process was everted beyond the superficial inguinal ring. The vaginal process was incised and the protruding structure, usually the epididymis, was grasped. The testis was drawn out by gentle traction on the epididymis, and castration wa...
Wesson JA, Orr EL, Quay WB, Ginther OJ.Pony pineal glands and female reproductive tracts were collected monthly for 1 year from
a local slaughterhouse. Pineal gland weights did not change significantly throughout the year.
Pineal gland tissue homogenates were assayed for hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase
(HIOMT) activity with N-acetylserotonin as the primary substrate. The greatest HIOMT
activity was obtained with N-acetylserotonin as substrate. but three other related S-OH
indole substrates (5-hydroxytryptophol, serotonin. and 5-hydroxy-2-methylindole) were also
methylated. HIOMT activity with all substrates was highest duri...
Neely DP, Stabenfeldt GH, Kindahl H, Hughes JP, Kendrick JW.The intrauterine infusion of 500 ml of warm sterile saline solution into mares on days 12, 13, or 14 after ovulation failed to alter the ovulatory interval, although intervals were shorter for days 12 and 13 (20.6 days) when compared with those in control mares (21.6 days). The IU fusion shortened luteal-life-span on days 12 (12.0 vs 13.8 days) and 13 (13.0 vs 14.4 days) (P is less than 0.05), but not day 14 (14.0 vs 13.5 days), when comparing the effects of IU infusion with an average of before and after base-line data. There was no effect on the interval from corpus luteum regression to ovul...
Cox JE, Edwards GB, Neal PA.The authors analyse data collected over 23 years from 500 cryptorchid horses. They show that left- and right-sided abdominal cases occur with approximately equal frequency in ponies. Approximately half the right-sided unilateral abdominal cases have the epididymal tail descended while only 20 per cent of the left-sided cases do. These findings are briefly discussed. From their analysis of inguinal cryptorchidism the authors conclude that it is a relatively more complex phenomenon with incidence changing with age as well as breed. Right-sided retention predominates in young ponies, probably bei...
Sharp DC, Garcia MC, Ginther OJ.Luteinizing hormone (LH) was quantified in pony mares during artificially induced sexual maturation. Ovarian follicular development was also assessed by rectal palpation of the ovaries. With the exception of large periovulatory LH concentrations in two mares that ovulated, LH concentrations were not significantly different in mares undergoing sexual maturation and thus having marked follicular development when compared with mares that were not undergoing sexual maturation and thus did not have marked follicular development. These results indicate a dissociation in time between the onset of fol...
Allen WE, Newcombe JR.The three groups of bacteria that cause endometritis in the mare are reviewed. The different methods of swabbing are assessed and the criteria which should be observed when developing a swabbing technique listed. The choice of speculum and swabs available are described.
Neely DP, Stabenfeldt GH, Sauter CL.Daily injections of 150 units oxytocin administered to 6 mares on Days 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 after ovulation (Day 0 = ovulation) failed to induced luteolysis as indicated by the maintenance of normal plasma progestagen concentrations and the occurrence of normal ovulatory intervals. Three additional mares were given oestrogen injections 24 h before an injection of oxytocin on Day 7 after ovulation, but this treatment also failed to induce luteolysis since plasma progestagen concentrations were maintained in all three mares. Two mares exhibited normal ovulatory intervals, while the third developed a...
Cermák O.An attempt was made to express the relationship of spermiological characteristics with the fertility on the basis of seasonal variability of the fertility of stallions and of the ejaculate quality. A positive correlation between the activity of spermatozoa and the fertility ensues from the values of correlation coefficients. There is a negative correlation between the fertility and the concentration of citric acid. In the other characteristics, i.e. in the production of spermatozoa, volume of gel substance, pH, ergothioneine concentration, polarographic and hemolytic activity, the correlation ...
Menzer C, Schams D.A double-antibody radioimmunoassay for PMSG, especially for meauring PMSG in cattle blood after exogenous application, has been developed. A rabbit antiserum against PMSG and pure PMSG for radioiodination were used. There was a strong cross-reaction against equine LH and FSH, but the slight cross-reaction against bovine LH and FSH could be eliminated by adding bovine LH to each tube during the assay. Unspecific, interfering influences of equine or cow serum could be eliminated by adding a constant amount of PMSG-free serum to each tube. PMSG added to 200 microliter of serum could be recovered ...
Allen WE.The situations and conditions that can disrupt the mares normal oestrous cycle are described. Season of the year is a major influence; maximum reproductive efficiency does not totally coincide with the artificially defined "breeding season". Other abnormalities are associated with spontaneously persistent luteal function, psychological influences over behavioural activity, the presence of endometritis, multiple ovulation, reproductive behavior after pregnancy failure and granulosa cell tumours.
Cermák O.The paper describes the relation of citric acid to other chemical and biological indices of the fertility of stallion sperm. A positive relation was found between citric acid and the density and motility of spermatozoa, to the concentration of ergothioneine, and hemolytic activity, and a negative relation to pH and to the polarographic activity of proteins. Attention is drawn to the important nutritional function of citric acid.
Kútvölgyi G, Brabender K, Andersson M, Javkhlan A, Nagy S, Páble T, Egerszegi I, Hidas A, Soós I, Kovács A.The case of an 8-year-old, sexually active but infertile Przewalski's stallion (Equus ferus przewalskii) was studied. Besides the infertility, the stallion also showed permanent problems with its body condition, being obviously weaker than all the other group members. The horse was kept in a separate place for two years with 12 mares in its harem group (six mares had foals earlier); however, none of the mares covered got pregnant. Andrological and cytogenetic investigations revealed underdeveloped testes, arrested spermatogenesis, azoospermia, and XY/XXY/X0 mosaicism. We classify the case as a...
Leadon DP, Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.Parturition was induced in 2 groups of mares, less than 300 (n = 49) and 300 to 320 days gestation (n = 31), by the administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha or fluprostenol and oxytocin. Foals were categorized into 4 groups according to their ability to adapt in, and survive, the neonatal period. Group A had no demonstrable coordinating reflexes, were weak from birth, and all died within 90 minutes. Group B had some righting reflexes, but had poor coordination and a weak suck reflex. They showed some improvement for about 2 hours, but all died within 9 hours. Group C foals had a good suck refl...
Millar R, Francis J.Day (1939) recorded 95% fertility in wild
ponies, but in heavy horses it was only 52%
and in thoroughbreds 68%. Variation of fertility was stated by Anderson (1922) was not due
to disease or physiological malfunction, but to
highly artificial methods of mating. In New
Zealand, Bain (1948) recorded the fertility of
mares in 1944 as 61%. MahaiIey (1950) made
a survey in Western Australia and found fertility
rates which varied from 17% to 50% before
veterinary assistance was obtained.
An article in the British Racehorse (Anon
1949) revealed no evidence of any progress in
the control o...
Silvia PJ, Johnson L, Fitzgerald BP.In mares, the amount of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is low in the hypothalamus during seasonal anoestrus, but by early spring, concentrations of GnRH are high. The timing of this response was characterized more precisely by determining concentrations of GnRH in hypothalamic tissue collected immediately before and at various times after the winter solstice (22 December 1986). Ovaries, pituitary gland, hypothalamus and a blood sample were collected from six groups of mares (6-12 mares per group) at death, 1 week before day of the winter solstice and 1, 2, 3 and 12 weeks afterwards. No...
Brooks DE, McCoy DJ, Martin GS.Uterine rupture was diagnosed in 2 postpartum mares with hemorrhagic vaginal discharge. Both mares had abdominal pain, as evidenced by pawing, kicking at the abdomen, or attempting to roll. Peritoneal fluid analysis was useful in establishing a diagnosis. One mare had many RBC in the peritoneal fluid and was anemic; this mare was managed medically with oxytocin, antibiotics, and blood transfusion. The mare was able to raise her foal to weaning age. The second mare had many RBC, degenerate neutrophils, and intracellular and extracellular bacteria in peritoneal fluid. Surgical repair of the uter...
Guay P, Rondeau M, Boucher S.The effect of different glycerol concentrations (0 to 5.3 per cent) on motility, viability and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) release of stallion spermatozoa was studied before and after deep-freezing. Addition of glycerol to a TRIS-fructose-egg yolk diluent used to extend stallion semen had no effect on motility and viability of spermatozoa and it did not increase AST release. Inclusion of glycerol in the extender only partially preserved the motility and viability of stallion semen during deep-freezing. A fertility trial revealed that concentrating stallion semen by centrifugation, followe...
Fischer KD.A number of surgical interventions in ancient veterinary medicine were modelled on the same procedures in human medicine. This is discussed in some detail for the prolapse of the uterus and the couching of the cataract in horses. In the introductory section, the importance of Switzerland and neighbouring areas for the transmission of ancient veterinary medicine is highlighted.
Ginther OJ, Wolf CA, Baldrighi JM, Greene JM.Hourly circulating concentrations of a PGF2α metabolite (PGFM), progesterone (P4), and LH were obtained from a reported project, and concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NOMs; nitrates and nitrites) were determined in eight mares. Unlike the reported project, hormone concentrations were normalized to the peak of the first PGFM pulse of luteolysis (early luteolysis), second PGFM pulse (late luteolysis), and a pulse after luteolysis. The duration of luteolysis was 23.1 ± 1.0 hours, and the peak of the first and second PGFM pulses occurred 6.5 ± 0.9 and 14.8 ± 0.8 hours after the ...