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Home / Equine Research Bank / Theriogenology / The effect of skin allografting on the equine endometrial cu...
Theriogenology2007; 68(2); 237-247; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.04.058

The effect of skin allografting on the equine endometrial cup reaction.

Abstract: This research tested the hypothesis that immunological sensitization of mares by skin allografting, followed by the establishment of pregnancy using semen from the skin-graft donor, would give rise to secondary immune responses to the developing horse conceptus, resulting in an earlier demise of the fetally derived endometrial cups. Maiden mares received skin allografts from a stallion homozygous for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigens and/or equivalent autografts and were subsequently mated to the skin-graft donor stallion during the next two breeding seasons. Mares that had been immunologically primed to the foreign MHC class I antigens of the skin-graft donor stallion developed strong secondary antibody responses early in their first pregnancies, whereas autografted mares made weak primary antibody responses in their first pregnancies and strong secondary responses in their second pregnancies. In contrast, histological examination of the endometrial cups after surgical pregnancy termination at Day 60 of gestation revealed no discernible differences between allografted and autografted mares, and there were no significant differences in the concentrations and/or duration of secretion of the endometrial cup-specific hormone, equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG), between allografted and autografted mares, nor in either group between first and second pregnancies. The vigorous antibody response observed in the pregnant allografted mares supported the first part of our hypothesis, providing evidence of systemic immunological priming. However, there was a lack of an equivalent heightened cellular response to the endometrial cups. These findings provided strong evidence for an asymmetric immune response to the conceptus, characterized by strong humoral immunity and a dampened cellular response.
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Publication Date: 2007-06-07 PubMed ID: 17559923PubMed Central: PMC2259290DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.04.058Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The study investigates the impact of skin allografting on the process of endometrial cup development in horses. The results point towards the existence of a strong immune response on a systemic level but interestingly, do not note any significant cellular response.

Research Objective and Hypothesis

  • The research aimed to verify the hypothesis that if mares are sensitized immunologically by skin allografting and then subjected to pregnancy through the use of semen from the same skin-graft donor, it induces secondary immune responses to the developing horse embryo, subsequently causing an early end to the formation of endometrial cups.

Research Methodology

  • Maiden mares were subjected to skin allografts from a stallion that was homozygous for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigens and/or equivalent autografts.
  • These mares were then bred with the skin-graft donor stallion in the subsequent two breeding seasons.
  • A comparative analysis was done between mares that were primed immunologically to foreign MHC class I antigens from the donor stallion and autografted mares.

Research Findings

  • Results showed that mares primed with foreign MHC oxidants had a strong secondary antibody response early in their first pregnancy.
  • Mares that received autografts showed primary weak antibody response during their first pregnancies, with strong secondary responses occurring in the second pregnancies.
  • However, upon histological analysis of the endometrial cups post-surgical termination of the pregnancy at Day 60 of gestation, no differences between allografted and autografted mares were evident.
  • There were also no significant alterations in the concentration and/or duration of secretion of the endometrial cup-specific hormone, equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG), between autografted and allografted mares.

Interpretation and Conclusion

  • While the strong antibody response in allografted mares during their first pregnancies supports the first part of the hypothesis, there wasn’t any corresponding heightened cellular response in the endometrial cups.
  • This points towards the occurrence of an asymmetric immune response against the embryo, characterized by heightened humoral immunity but subdued cellular response.

Cite This Article

APA
Adams AP, Oriol JG, Campbell RE, Oppenheim YC, Allen WR, Antczak DF. (2007). The effect of skin allografting on the equine endometrial cup reaction. Theriogenology, 68(2), 237-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.04.058

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 0093-691X
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 2
Pages: 237-247

Researcher Affiliations

Adams, A P
  • Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States. apadams@utmb.edu
Oriol, J G
    Campbell, R E
      Oppenheim, Y C
        Allen, W R
          Antczak, D F

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antibody Formation
            • Endometrium / cytology
            • Endometrium / immunology
            • Female
            • Histocompatibility
            • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
            • Horses / immunology
            • Immunization
            • Pregnancy
            • Pregnancy, Animal / immunology
            • Skin Transplantation / immunology
            • Transplantation, Homologous

            Grant Funding

            • T32 RR07059 / NCRR NIH HHS
            • R01 HD015799 / NICHD NIH HHS
            • NICHD-049545 / PHS HHS
            • T32 RR007059 / NCRR NIH HHS
            • F32 HD008575 / NICHD NIH HHS
            • R01 HD034086 / NICHD NIH HHS
            • R01 HD049545 / NICHD NIH HHS
            • NICHD-34086 / PHS HHS
            • F32 HD08575 / NICHD NIH HHS
            • NICHD-15799 / PHS HHS

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