The Effect of Treatment with Oestradiol Benzoate on Oestrus Expression and Endometrial Oedema in Anovulatory and Cyclic Mares.
- Journal Article
Summary
The research focuses on understanding the effect of different doses of the hormone oestradiol benzoate on inducing oestrus behaviour and endometrial oedema in anovulatory and cyclic mares for the convenience of semen collection and embryo transfer.
Objective of the Study
The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact of various doses of oestradiol benzoate (OB), a type of estrogen, on the initiation of oestrus behaviour and induction of endometrial oedema in both anovulatory (not ovulating) and cyclic (ovulating regularly) mares. There was also an interest in the investigation of the intensity and duration of the response, which has been previously unstudied.
Methodology
In the first experiment:
- 13 anovulatory mares were administered one of the five predetermined doses of OB (1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 mg) in five following treatment cycles (totalling 65 administrations).
- The response, in terms of endometrial oedema (swelling of the uterus lining) and oestrous behaviour (actions indicating readiness for mating), was observed and recorded.
In the second and third experiments:
- 3 mg of OB was administered to cyclic mares.
- The presence or absence of a corpus luteum (CL, the structure that develops after ovulation) was noted.
Results
From the results it was clear that OB dose rate and individual mare attributes greatly influenced the severity and consistency of endometrial oedema and oestrous behaviour.
- It was found that 2 mg OB was enough to induce endometrial oedema and oestrous behaviour within 48 hours in most mares.
- Mares with an active CL did not display endometrial oedema when treated with 3 mg of OB, possibly indicating a hormonal resistance during the active luteal phase.
In essence, this study provides pivotal data on the application of hormone therapy in breeding and veterinary practices, setting guidelines on the optimal treatment dosage for inducing oestrus behaviour in mares.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil.
- Warren House Farm, Equine Fertility Clinic, Brownhills WS8 6LU, UK.
- Equine Fertility Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Valencia, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
References
- Ginther OJ. Sexual Behavior. 1992;pp. 75–104.
- Nett TM, Pickett BW, Seidel JGE, Voss JL. Levels of Luteinizing Hormone and Progesterone During the Estrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy in Mares. Biol. Reprod. 1976;14:412–415.
- Makawiti DW, Allen WE, Kilpatrick MJ. Changes in oestrone sulphate concentrations in peripheral plasma of Pony mares associated with follicular growth, ovulation and early pregnancy. Reproduction 1983;68:481–487.
- Pelehach LM, Sharp DC, Porter MB, Dixon LN, McDowell KJ. Role of oestrogen and progesterone in the control of uterine edema in pony mares. Biol. Reprod. 2000;62:258.
- Pelehach LM, Greaves HE, Porter MB, Desvousges A, Sharp DC. The role of estrogens and progesterone in the induction and dissipation of uterine edema in mares. Theriogenology 2002;54:441–444.
- Samper JC. Ultrasonographic appearance and the pattern of uterine edema to time ovulation in mares. Proc. Annu. Conv. Am. Equine 1997;43:189–191.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Newcombe JR. Repeatability of preovulatory follicular diameter and uterine edema pattern in two consecutive cycles in the mare and how they are influenced by ovulation inductors. Theriogenology 2008;69:681–687.
- Nelson E, Kiefer B, Roser J, Evans J. Serum estradiol-17β concentrations during spontaneous silent estrus and after prostaglandin treatment in the mare. Theriogenology 1985;23:241–262.
- Mateu-Sánchez S, Newcombe JR, Garcés-Narro C, Cuervo-Arango J. The period of the follicular phase during which the uterus of mares shows estrus-like echotexture influences the subsequent pregnancy rate. Theriogenology 2016;86:1506–1515.
- Silva E, Roser J, Gomes A, Fritsch S, Pantoja J, Oliveira-Filho J, Meira C. Comparison of different regimens of estradiol benzoate treatments followed by long-acting progesterone to prepare noncycling mares as embryo recipients. Theriogenology 2016;86:1749–1756.
- Greco GM, Gonçalves Burlamaqui FL, Pinna AE, de Queiroz FJR, dos Santos Cunha MP, Brandão FZ. Use of long-acting progesterone to acyclic embryo recipient mares. Braz. J. Anim. Sci. 2012;41:607–611.
- Rocha Filho AN, Pessôa MA, Gioso MM, Alvarenga MA. Transfer of equine embryos into anovulatory recipients supplemented with short or long acting progesterone. Anim. Reprod. 2004;1:91–95.
- Botelho JH, Pessoa GO, Rocha LG, Yeste M. Hormone supplementation protocol using estradiol benzoate and long-acting progesterone is efficient in maintaining pregnancy of anovulatory recipient mares during autumn transitional phase. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 2015;153:39–43.
- Burns PJ, Douglas RH. Effects of daily administration of estradiol-17 beta on follicular growth, ovulation, and plasma hormones in mares. Biol. Reprod. 1981;24:1026–1031.
- Hochberg RB, Pahuja SL, Zielinski JE, Larner JM. Steroidal fatty acid esters. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 1991;40:577–585.
- Asa CS, Goldfoot DA, Garcia MC, Ginther OJ. The effect of estradiol and progesterone on the sexual behavior of ovariectomized mares. Physiol. Behav. 1984;33:681–686.
- Newcombe JR, Wilsher S, Cuervo-Arango J. The post-ovulatory rise in progesterone is lower and the persistence of oestrous behaviour longer during the first compared with the second cycle of the breeding season in mares. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2023;58:141–145.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Martín-Peláez MS, Claes AN. A practical guide to estimate the age of the early CL by ultrasonography in mares examined for the first time to be used as recipients in a commercial embryo transfer program. Theriogenology 2020;153:48–53.
- Thompson DL. Anestrus. Equine Reproduction 2011;p. 1697.
- Love CC. Semen collection techniques. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 1992;8:111–128.
- Silva E, Ignácio F, Fritsch S, Zanoni D, Pantoja J, Oliveira-Filho J, Meira C. Administration of 2.5 mg of estradiol followed by 1500 mg of progesterone to anovulatory mares promote similar uterine morphology, hormone concentrations and molecular dynamics to those observed in cyclic mares. Theriogenology 2017;97:159–169.
- Loy RG, Swan SM. Effects of exogenous progesterone on reproductive phenomena in mares. J. Anim. Sci. 1966;25:821–826.
- Bergfelt DR, Pierson RA, Ginther OJ. Regression and resurgence of the CL following PGF2alpha treatment 3 days after ovulation in mares. Theriogenology 2006;65:1605–1619.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Newcombe J. Relationship Between Dose of Cloprostenol and Age of Corpus Luteum on the Luteolytic Response of Early Dioestrous Mares: A Field Study. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2011;47:660–665.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Claes AN, Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TA. Likelihood of pregnancy after embryo transfer is reduced in recipient mares with a short preceding oestrus. Equine Veter. J. 2017;50:386–390.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Mateu-Sánchez S, Aguilar JJ, Nielsen JM, Etcharren V, Vettorazzi ML, Newcombe JR. The effect of the interval from PGF treatment to ovulation on embryo recovery and pregnancy rate in the mare. Theriogenology 2015;83:1272–1278.
- Cuervo-Arango J, Claes AN, Stout TAE. In vitro-produced horse embryos exhibit a very narrow window of acceptable recipient mare uterine synchrony compared with in vivo-derived embryos. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 2019;31:1904–1911.
- Oquendo PS, Silva ESM, Oquendo FMG, Cuervo-Arango J, Beletti ME. The effect of priming and duration of oestradiol benzoate treatment before progesterone administration on embryo development and survival in anestrous recipient mares. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2022;57:1474–1477.
- Watson ED. Post-breeding endometritis in the mare. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 2000;60:221–232.
- Canisso IF, Stewart J, Coutinho da Silva MA. Endometritis: Managing Persistent Post-Breeding Endometritis. Vet. Clin. Equine Pract. 2016;32:465–480.
- Katila T, Ferreira-Dias G. Evolution of the Concepts of Endometrosis, Post Breeding Endometritis, and Susceptibility of Mares. Animals 2022;12:779.
- Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Beg MA. Dynamics of the equine preovulatory follicle and periovulatory hormones: What’s new?. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2008;28:454–460.