Effect of frozen semen on the uterus of mares with pathological uterine changes.
Abstract: Pregnancy rates after frozen semen inseminations (AI), particularly in older and problem mares, are lower than after fresh semen AI. Uterine contractility and the inflammatory reaction after frozen semen insemination were studied in two groups of mares: the abnormal group comprised of 6 old barren mares categorized in biopsy category IIB or III, and the control group including 6 reproductively normal young maiden mares in biopsy category I or IIA. All 12 mares were inseminated in the first cycle with 2 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and in their second cycle with 2 mL of frozen semen containing 800 x 10(6) spermatozoa. Before and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 20 to 24 h after this treatment, all mares were examined by ultrasonography for intrauterine fluid accumulations (IUFA). The examinations were videotaped to count the number of uterine contractions later. Uterine fluid was obtained by tampon before treatment, and by the tampon method followed by uterine lavage after the last examination. Fluids were cultured bacteriologically, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were counted. Trypsin-inhibitor capacity (TIC), lysozyme concentration, and beta-glucuronidase (BGase) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activities were determined in frozen-thawed tampon and lavage fluids. Both treatments induced significant neutrophilia in the uterine lumen. Although PMN concentrations were numerically higher after frozen semen AI than after PBS-treatment, the difference was not significant. There was not any difference between the mare groups either. The amount of IUFA differed only in the normal group between frozen semen AI and PBS treatment, and between 0- and 24-h samples for frozen semen AI. Although abnormal mares showed consistently more fluid than normal mares, this difference was not significant. Uterine contractions and enzyme concentrations between groups did not differ. None of the variables showed significant differences between the normal and abnormal mares in their reaction to frozen semen AI.
Publication Date: 2004-10-06 PubMed ID: 15460163DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2004028Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The article explores how frozen semen impacts the uterus of mares, particularly those with pathological uterine changes. The study reveals that there is no significant difference in the effects of frozen semen on normal and abnormal mares.
Methods
- In the study, two groups were formed: a control group of six young healthy mares and another group comprising six older barren mares with uterine abnormalities.
- For the first cycle of the study, all the mares were inseminated with a saline solution (PBS) and for the second cycle all of them were inseminated with frozen semen.
- The mares were checked for intrauterine fluid accumulations (IUFA) via ultrasonography before and multiple times after inseminations. The examinations were recorded for counting uterine contractions afterwards.
- Uterine fluid was extracted before and after experiments for bacteriological culture and counting polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).
- The tampon and lavage fluids obtained were also checked for trypsin-inhibitor capacity (TIC), lysozyme concentration, and beta-glucuronidase (BGase) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activities.
Results and Findings
- Both the saline treatment and the frozen semen induced neutrophilia, which is a significant increase in the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the uterus.
- There was no stark difference in the reaction of the normal and abnormal mares to the frozen semen.
- While the PMN concentrations did seem to be higher after the frozen semen AI compared to the saline solution treatment, this difference was not significant. Similarly, the amount of IUFA differed only in the normal group between the two treatments, with the frozen semen AI sparking more accumulation.
- The uterine contractions and enzyme concentrations did not differ between the groups post insemination.
- Despite abnormal mares showing more fluid than normal mares, this difference was not quantifiably noteworthy.
Conclusion
This research shows no significant differences in the reaction of normal and abnormal mares to frozen semen artificial insemination. While both treatments led to neutrophilia in the uterine lumen, the differences in polymorphonuclear leukocytes concentrations, intrauterine fluid accumulations, uterine contractions, and enzyme levels were not statistically significant between the two mare groups. This suggests that the lower pregnancy rates observed in mares with uterine abnormalities may not solely be due to the use of frozen semen. Further research would be needed to clarify the exact causes.
Cite This Article
APA
Güvenc K, Reilas T, Katila T.
(2004).
Effect of frozen semen on the uterus of mares with pathological uterine changes.
Reprod Nutr Dev, 44(3), 243-250.
https://doi.org/10.1051/rnd:2004028 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Istanbul, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Istanbul, Turkey.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / growth & development
- Body Fluids / cytology
- Body Fluids / microbiology
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Endometriosis / pathology
- Endometriosis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / pathology
- Insemination, Artificial / methods
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Leukocyte Count
- Male
- Neutrophils
- Pregnancy
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Therapeutic Irrigation
- Uterine Contraction
- Uterine Diseases / pathology
- Uterus / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Mansouri A, Akthar I, Miyamoto A. TLR2 and TLR4 bridge physiological and pathological inflammation in the reproductive system. Commun Biol 2025 Jul 5;8(1):1008.
- Katila T, Ferreira-Dias G. Evolution of the Concepts of Endometrosis, Post Breeding Endometritis, and Susceptibility of Mares. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 19;12(6).
- Prabhu K, Kumar P, Adiga SK, Rao A, Lanka A, Singh J. Plasma protein thiols, ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein and red blood cell acetylcholinesterase in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination. J Hum Reprod Sci 2009 Jan;2(1):27-9.
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