Periovulatory administration of firocoxib did not alter ovulation rates and mitigated post-breeding inflammatory response in mares.
Abstract: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a therapeutic option for the treatment of inflammation. However, negative effects of non-selective NSAIDs for treatment of mares with endometritis have been described, including delayed uterine clearance and impairment of ovulations. Firocoxib is a specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor and has the ability to act in the uterus of mares. We investigated the effects of firocoxib on ovulation rate, numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), and COX-2 protein levels in the endometrial tissue of susceptible mares after insemination. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, twenty mares were evaluated in two consecutive estrous cycles broken into the following groups: Control - no pharmacological interference; Treatment - mares were treated with 0.2 mg/kg of firocoxib orally. The treatment began on the day of ovulation induction, and firocoxib was administered until one day after artificial insemination (AI). Ovulation was induced with 1 mg of deslorelin acetate and the mares were inseminated 24 h after the injection. Ovulation was confirmed 48 h after induction, and embryos were collected eight days after ovulation. Experiment 2: Nine mares susceptible to persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) were artificially inseminated. The mares were examined with ultrasound and inseminated with fresh semen in two consecutive cycles, control and treated, in a cross-over study design. The amount of intrauterine fluid was measured, and endometrial samples were collected 24 h after AI. The number of PMNs was determined by endometrial cytology and biopsy, and COX-2 labeling in endometrial samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Firocoxib treatment did not induce ovulatory failure or affect embryo recovery rate in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, firocoxib treatment reduced inflammation after AI in mares as evidenced with results regarding PMN numbers/percentage and endometrial COX-2 staining. In conclusion, the proposed treatment with firocoxib reduced endometrial inflammation in mares susceptible to PMIE after breeding, with no adverse effects.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2019-06-29 PubMed ID: 31280182DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.06.045Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigated whether firocoxib, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), affects ovulation rates in mares and how it impacts post-breeding inflammation. It found that firocoxib neither altered ovulation rates nor had an adverse effect; moreover, it decreased inflammation after breeding.
Objectives of the Research
- The research was focused on finding out if firocoxib, a specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, affects ovulation rates and post-breeding inflammation in mares.
- It aimed to identify the effects of the drug on neutrophil numbers and COX-2 protein levels in the mares’ endometrial tissue following insemination.
Methodology
- The study was conducted in two parts. The first experiment involved twenty mares divided into two groups – a control group with no pharmacological intervention and the treatment group administered 0.2 mg/kg of firocoxib orally. The treatment commenced on the day of ovulation induction and carried on until a day after artificial insemination (AI).
- In the second experiment, the effects of firocoxib on nine mares predisposed to persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) were studied. Controlled and treated cycles alternated in a cross-over design, with the mares inseminated with fresh semen in both. Then, the researchers investigated endometrial samples for neutrophil numbers and COX-2 labelling, 24 hours post-insemination. The researchers also measured any intrauterine fluid discovered during the process.
Results and Conclusions
- Experiment 1 found that firocoxib administration didn’t induce ovulatory failure or affect embryo recovery rates.
- When it comes to Experiment 2, the research found that the treatment with firocoxib decreased inflammation post-insemination in mares, indicated by a reduction in the numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and endometrial COX-2 staining.
- The research concluded that using firocoxib reduced endometrial inflammation post-breeding in mares that were prone to PMIE and had no detrimental effects. Therefore, firocoxib could be a potential therapeutic treatment for addressing uterine inflammation in such circumstances.
Cite This Article
APA
Friso AM, Segabinazzi LGTM, Cyrino M, Correal SB, Freitas-Dell'Aqua CP, Teoro do Carmo M, Dell'Aqua JA, Miró J, Papa FO, Alvarenga MA.
(2019).
Periovulatory administration of firocoxib did not alter ovulation rates and mitigated post-breeding inflammatory response in mares.
Theriogenology, 138, 24-30.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.06.045 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- Equine Reproduction Service, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- LUB Breeding Farm, Cesário Lange, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- Equine Reproduction Service, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil. Electronic address: marco.alvarenga@unesp.br.
MeSH Terms
- 4-Butyrolactone / administration & dosage
- 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Breeding
- Cross-Over Studies
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Endometritis / drug therapy
- Endometritis / veterinary
- Estrous Cycle / drug effects
- Estrous Cycle / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Inflammation / etiology
- Inflammation / prevention & control
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Insemination, Artificial / adverse effects
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Male
- Ovulation / drug effects
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Rate
- Sulfones / administration & dosage
- Treatment Outcome
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
