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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Pregnancy and Luteal Responses to Embryo Reinsertion followi...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(11); doi: 10.3390/ani14111605

Pregnancy and Luteal Responses to Embryo Reinsertion following Embryo Flushing in Donor Mares.

Abstract: The effect of embryo reinsertion immediately after embryo flushing was studied. In Experiment 1, eight mares were used during 32 cycles (8 cycles in each group). For the first two groups, inseminated mares were flushed 8 days after ovulation and prostaglandin F2α was not administered: in group EF-ET (embryo flushing and embryo transfer) the embryo was reinserted in the same donor mare, while in the EF group, no further procedure was performed. In the third group (ET), non-inseminated mares (recipients) received a Day 8 embryo. Progesterone concentration was measured before EF/ET and 72 h after in the three groups. In Experiment 2, twelve mares were used during 17 cycles in two groups, EF-ET (n = 11) and ET (n = 6), as in Experiment 1, except that every mare was flushed 24 h after embryo transfer to retrieve the embryo. Fewer pregnancies resulted after transfer in EF-ET cycles (0/8, 0%) than in the ET group (6/8, 75%). Progesterone concentration decreased significantly (p = 0.05) 72 h after EF-ET but not in EF or ET cycles (p > 0.1). Three mares from the EF-ET showed full luteolysis and signs of endometritis. In Experiment 2, more (5/6; p = 0.08) grade 1 embryos were recovered in the ET compared to the EF-ET group (3/7); 4 embryos were graded 3-4 (were broken or had signs of degeneration) in the EF-ET group but none in the ET group. In both groups, capsule fragments were obtained as indicative of the presence of a recently destroyed embryo in the EF-ET (n = 3) and ET (n = 1) groups. Positive bacterial cultures were obtained in 2/11 and 1/6 embryo flushes from the EF-ET and ET groups, respectively.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-29 PubMed ID: 38891652PubMed Central: PMC11171359DOI: 10.3390/ani14111605Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigates the impact of reinserting embryos into the donor mares immediately after an embryo flushing process. The study reveals that doing so often resulted in endometriosis and luteolysis in the mares and a significant drop in progesterone concentration, conditions detrimental to pregnancy.

Experiment Design

  • Two separate experiments were conducted.
  • Experiment 1 involved eight mares used over 32 cycles, divided into three groups.
  • The first two groups of inseminated mares were flushed 8 days after ovulation, but were not administered prostaglandin F2α.
  • The first group (EF-ET) had the flushed embryo reinserted, whereas for the second group (EF), no further procedures were carried out.
  • The third group (ET) involve non-inseminated mares who received an 8-day old embryo.
  • Progesterone concentrations were measured before and 72 hours after the flushing/transferring processes.
  • In Experiment 2, twelve mares over 17 cycles were flushes 24 hours after embryo transfer, divided into two groups, EF-ET and ET, similarly as in Experiment 1.

Results and Conclusions

  • Overall, the successful rate of pregnancies was significantly lower in EF-ET cycles compared to ET groups.
  • Progesterone concentration, vital for pregnancy, decreased significantly 72 hours post the EF-ET procedure but did not shift much in the EF or ET cycles.
  • Three mares in EF-ET group showed full luteolysis and signs of endometritis, indicating problems in their ovulation cycle and inflammation of the uterus respectively.
  • In Experiment 2, higher quality (grade 1) embryos were found in the ET group compared to EF-ET group, further verifying challenges posed by immediate embryo reinsertion.
  • Moreover, signs of embryo destruction were found in both EF-ET and ET groups.
  • Bacterial infections were detected in embryonic flushes of both groups, with a higher rate in the EF-ET group, adding to the complications.

In conclusion, the study suggests that embryo reinsertion immediately after embryo flushing can lead to lower pregnancy rates, as it hampers the endometrial and luteal health of the mares and reduces progesterone concentration.

Cite This Article

APA
Martínez-Boví R, Gaber JTH, Sala-Ayala L, Plaza-Dávila M, Cuervo-Arango J. (2024). Pregnancy and Luteal Responses to Embryo Reinsertion following Embryo Flushing in Donor Mares. Animals (Basel), 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111605

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Martínez-Boví, Rebeca
  • Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
Gaber, Jana T H
  • Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
Sala-Ayala, Laura
  • Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
Plaza-Dávila, María
  • Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
Cuervo-Arango, Juan
  • Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.

Grant Funding

  • FUSP-PP-22-064 and INDI23/13. / Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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