The role of seminal plasma in post-breeding uterine inflammation.

The article researches about the function of seminal plasma in reducing uterine inflammation after breeding. It investigates how seminal plasma affects polymorphonuclear neutrophil chemotaxis, its phagocytosis technique, and complement-induced cytolysis.

Study Implementation

• The study uses blood plasma from four horses and seminal plasma collected from two stallions. Different experiments investigate the impact of seminal plasma on chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and complement-induced cytolysis.

Chemotaxis Investigation

• In order to study chemotaxis, blood plasma’s complement was activated with E. coli lipopolysaccharide with seminal plasma. This mixture was placed in a chemotactic chamber. The response of equine PMNs was examined after incubation at 37 degrees C for 45 min.

Phagocytosis Investigation

• The second part of the study examined phagocytosis. Seminal plasma was mixed with blood plasma in increasing concentrations and with equine spermatozoa from fertile stallions. After the seminal plasma was removed post-opsonization at 37 degrees C for 30 min, PMNs were introduced to the sperm cells and later examined under a microscope. The essential metrics for the study were the count of phagocytosed spermatozoa per 100 PMNs and the proportion of PMNs that had ingested at least one spermatozoon.

Cytolysis Investigation

• Lastly, to investigate complement-induced cytolysis, antibody-sensitized sheep red blood cells were used. The 50% haemolytic complement activity (CH50) was assessed both in blood plasma and in the presence of increasing concentrations of seminal plasma. The extent of haemolysis was determined by spectrophotometry at 540 nm.

Results

• The results of the experiments indicate that the presence of seminal plasma results in a gradual inhibition of chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and complement-induced cytolysis. This suggests a hypothesis that the seminal plasma may have a role in reducing inflammation in the uterus post-breeding, technically referred to as post-breeding endometritis.