Premature luteal regression in a pregnant mare and subsequent pregnancy maintenance with the use of oral altrenogest.
Abstract: Premature luteal demise or luteal insufficiency is not well characterised as a cause of pregnancy loss in domestic species, including horses. In this report, a mare inseminated with cooled-transported semen at our facility returned for a routine pregnancy diagnosis at 15 days post ovulation. Ultrasonography per rectum revealed endometrial oedema and the absence of visual indication of a corpus luteum on either ovary. Nonetheless, an embryonic vesicle small for the gestational age was identified. Daily oral altrenogest treatment was implemented immediately. Serum progesterone concentration was 0.67 ng/ml, which is below the threshold considered adequate for pregnancy maintenance in the mare. Examinations were repeated at 17, 25, 30, 39, 49, 72 and 120 days post ovulation. At 25 days post ovulation the embryonic vesicle presented normal development for the gestational age. In addition, sequential blood samples were collected to measure progesterone, equine chorionic gonadotrophin and oestrone sulphate concentrations. Although progesterone concentration did not exceed 2 ng/ml until 72 days post ovulation, all other results were unremarkable and a healthy filly was born uneventfully at 344 days post ovulation.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-03-13 PubMed ID: 22413930DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00559.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper details an unusual case of a pregnant mare with premature luteal regression, a condition that might usually result in pregnancy loss. However, using a treatment of daily oral altrenogest, the horse was able to maintain her pregnancy and give birth to a healthy filly.
Introduction
This study is centered on a single case of a pregnant mare suffering from premature luteal regression. This condition isn’t well studied or understood in domestic species, including horses, but it’s usually associated with potential pregnancy loss. In this case though, the mare was able to maintain her pregnancy and give birth to a healthy offspring, thanks to the use of oral altrenogest, a synthetic progestational agent used in horse breeding.
Methods
- The mare, after insemination with cooled-transported semen, returned for a regular pregnancy check at 15 days post ovulation. Ultrasonography revealed signs of abnormal pregnancy such as endometrial oedema and absence of visible corpus luteum on ovaries, indicating premature luteal regression.
- An embryonic vesicle small for the gestational age was identified, suggesting the pregnancy was still viable. The mare was immediately put on a treatment of daily oral altrenogest.
- The mare’s progesterone concentration was also tested and came out as 0.67 ng/ml, which is below the threshold for maintaining pregnancy in a mare.
- The mare was monitored continuously, with repeated examinations and collection of blood samples to track the levels of progesterone, equine chorionic gonadotrophin, and oestrone sulphate.
Results
- Subsequent tests revealed that despite the initial complications, the embryo showed normal development by the 25th day post ovulation.
- Even though the mare’s progesterone levels didn’t exceed 2 ng/ml until the 72nd day post ovulation, all other results, including the levels of other hormones, were normal.
- At 344 days post ovulation, the mare gave birth to a healthy filly.
Conclusion
The research concludes that in instances where mares show signs of premature luteal regression, oral altrenogest treatment can successfully maintain the pregnancy and lead to the birth of a healthy offspring. More research is needed to further understand the condition and the role of altrenogest treatment in such cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Canisso IF, Beltaire KA, Bedford-Guaus SJ.
(2012).
Premature luteal regression in a pregnant mare and subsequent pregnancy maintenance with the use of oral altrenogest.
Equine Vet J, 45(1), 97-100.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00559.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Section of Theriogenology, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / prevention & control
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
- Corpus Luteum Maintenance / drug effects
- Estrone / analogs & derivatives
- Estrone / blood
- Female
- Pregnancy
- Progesterone / blood
- Trenbolone Acetate / administration & dosage
- Trenbolone Acetate / analogs & derivatives
- Trenbolone Acetate / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Grabowska A, Kozdrowski R. Relationship between estrus endometrial edema and progesterone production in pregnant mares two weeks after ovulation.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Nov 21;18(1):414.
- Kottwitz JJ, Kiso W, Boothe DM, Schmitt D. Administration of Altrenogest to Maintain Pregnancy in Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus).. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 21;12(14).
- Segabinazzi LGTM, Roberts BN, Peterson EW, Ambrosia R, Bergfelt D, Samper J, French H, Gilbert RO. Early Pregnancy in Jennies in the Caribbean: Corpus Luteum Development and Progesterone Production, Uterine and Embryo Dynamics, Conceptus Growth and Maturation.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 6;12(2).
- Segabinazzi LGTM, Andrade LRP Jr, Alvarenga MA, Dell'Aqua JA Jr, Canisso IF. Use of Intravaginal Progesterone-Releasing Device Results in Similar Pregnancy Rates and Losses to Long-Acting Progesterone to Synchronize Acyclic Embryo Recipient Mares.. Vet Sci 2021 Sep 10;8(9).
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