Serum levels of acute phase proteins: SAA, Hp and progesterone (P4) in mares with early embryonic death.
Abstract: The study involved 46 healthy purebred Arabian mares exhibiting regular oestrous cycles that underwent artificial insemination (AI). Pregnancy was detected ultrasonographically (US) in 40 mares. In 15 mares in foal, early embryonic death (EED) was observed during the pregnancy days 14-21. Blood for determinations of serum acute phase proteins (SAA and Hp) and progesterone (P4) was sampled 12-24 h before ovulation and the first insemination, at 12, 24, 72, 96 h and on day 7, 10, 14, 21, 35 and 55 after ovulation. The results revealed that in 25 mares without EED, the serum levels of P4, SAA and Hp were within physiological limits; in 15 mares with EED, the levels of SAA and Hp were significantly increased. In seven mares with EED, high levels of SAA and Hp were already found before ovulation and at 12, 24, 72, 96 h as well as on day 7 and 10 post-ovulation, whereas the level of P4 was normal for early pregnancy. In the remaining eight mares with EED, increased levels of SAA and Hp were found at 72 h after ovulation and maintained until day 55. In this group, the level of P4 decreased since 96 h after ovulation. Determinations of SAA, Hp and P4 in mares in early pregnancy (EP) are useful for monitoring normal development of pregnancy and for diagnosis of subclinical genital inflammations, which may lead to EED.
© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2011-01-17 PubMed ID: 21241377DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01715.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the relationship between the levels of serum acute phase proteins and progesterone in Arabian mares, and their correlation with early embryonic death (EED). The findings show that significantly increased levels of serum acute phase proteins in mares can indicate potential EED, while the levels of these proteins and progesterone remained within normal range for mares without EED.
Background
- The study is built on the foundation of understanding early embryonic death (EED), a condition that occurs in mares during pregnancy between days 14-21.
- The focus here is largely on the role of acute phase proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp), as well as progesterone (P4), which can be used as markers to monitor pregnancy development and detect subclinical genital inflammations, often leading to EED.
Methodology
- Researchers selected 46 purebred Arabian mares that had regular oestrous cycles for the study.
- The mares underwent artificial insemination, and pregnancy was confirmed through ultrasonography in 40 of these.
- Blood sampling was carried out multiple times pre and post-ovulation to determine the levels of SAA, Hp, and P4 in all the mares.
Results
- In 15 of the 40 mares in which pregnancy was detected, EED was observed. Contrastingly, the other 25 mares exhibited normal pregnancy progression.
- Mares without EED maintained serum levels of P4, SAA, and Hp within physiological limits throughout the process.
- However, significant irregularities in the SAA and Hp were observed in the 15 mares with EED, while the levels of P4 remained typical for early pregnancy.
- In specific, seven of the fifteen mares with EED had already presented high SAA and Hp levels before ovulation, which continued till 10 days post-ovulation.
- The remaining eight mares showed increased levels of SAA and Hp 72h after ovulation, a situation that persisted till day 55, alongside a decrease in the P4 level 96h after ovulation.
Implications
- The study infers that monitoring the levels of SAA, Hp, and P4 during early pregnancy is useful in making accurate predictions about normal pregnancy development or risk of EED due to subclinical genital inflammations.
- Increased levels of SAA and Hp compared to P4 could be indicative of potential EED incidents.
Cite This Article
APA
Krakowski L, Krawczyk CH, Kostro K, Stefaniak T, Novotny F, Obara J.
(2011).
Serum levels of acute phase proteins: SAA, Hp and progesterone (P4) in mares with early embryonic death.
Reprod Domest Anim, 46(4), 624-629.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01715.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Andrology and Biotechnology of Reproduction, Chair and Department of Animal Reproduction, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland. leszek.krakowski@up.lublin.pl
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / blood
- Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism
- Animals
- Embryo Loss / blood
- Embryo Loss / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Pregnancy
- Progesterone / blood
- Progesterone / metabolism
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