Scanning electron microscopy of the endometrium of mares infused with gentamicin.

The research article focuses on studying the effects of an antibiotic called gentamicin when infused in the womb of thoroughbred mares, using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique. The results indicate subtle changes like more cellular perforations, fewer and disrupted ciliated cells, and cell surface losses, hinting the potential impacts of repeated gentamicin infusions.

Research Method

• The researchers conducted SEM on the endometria of nine 1-year old thoroughbred mares who were consecutively infused with gentamicin for two days.
• A concoction of 40 ml gentamicin (50 mg/ml) mixed with 80 ml of normal saline was infused into five mares.
• The remaining four mares served as controls, i.e., they were infused with 120 ml of saline only, again for two days consecutively.
• After the infusions, endometrial biopsies were taken from all the mares three days after the final or second intrauterine infusion.
• These biopsies were then submitted for SEM, via standard methods.

Research Findings

• The endometrial epithelium of the mares infused with gentamicin presented more cellular perforations compared to those infused with saline only.
• Additional observations were that gentamicin-infused mares had fewer and shorter microvilli, the hair-like structures found on the surface of all mammalian cells.
• The ciliated cells – ones with hair-like structures – were fewer in number. It was also noted that some of these ciliated cells displayed disrupted and some drooping cilia.
• The endometrial epithelium of the gentamicin-infused mares carried a significant number of endometrial cells that manifested a loss of their luminal surfaces and some even lost their microvilli when compared to saline-infused mares.

Conclusion

• Based on these observations, the researchers suggest that the information gathered from this pilot study should be the cornerstone for conducting additional deeper and wider-scale research.
• The aim of these future investigations should be to get a detailed understanding of the impacts of repeated gentamicin infusions on the endometrial mucosa of mares.