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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasoun...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2009; 49(11); 1093-1098;

Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction in mares.

Abstract: Multiple pregnancies are still an important cause of noninfectious abortion, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and significant delays in reproductive performance in mares. Despite new management techniques, reduction in multiple pregnancies is an ongoing preoccupation and challenge for the equine veterinarian. The aim of the present study was to establish a twin pregnancy experimental model in the mare to study the effectiveness of a transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection. Mares in heat were inseminated and then received an embryo at day 7 of the estrous cycle. At days 14 and 30, 53.5% (n = 23) and 23% (n = 10) of the mares, respectively, were carrying twins. Twin pregnancies were reduced at day 30 by transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the embryonic vesicle (control, n = 5) or by transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection (TVUEVI) of 25 mg of amikacin into the embryonic vesicle (n = 5). The TVUEVI treatment had a 40% success rate and no significant variations in progesterone and prostaglandin metabolite were observed. Even though the technique does not seem very effective, the experimental model could be useful for clinical research in embryo reduction and early embryonic loss. La gémellité demeure une cause importante d’avortement et de pertes en reproduction chez la jument. Malgré le développement de l’ultrasonographie permettant le diagnostic précoce et une gestion précise de la jument gravide, la réduction de la gémellité demeure une préoccupation et un défi en thériogénologie équine. L’objectif de la présente étude était de développer un modèle expérimental de gestation gémellaire pour déterminer l’efficacité d’une injection échoguidée par la voie transvaginale d’une solution dans la vésicule embryonnaire. Des juments en œstrus étaient inséminées puis un embryon frais, un blastocyste en expansion, était transféré à Jour 7 du cycle œstral. L’examen de gestation à 14 et 30 jours postovulatoire, révélait que 53,5 % ( = 23) and 23 % ( = 10) des juments, respectivement, avaient une gestation gémellaire. La gestation gémellaire était bicornuelle chez 8 des 10 juments et la réduction a été faite à 30 jours par approche vaginale, échoguidée selon deux techniques soit, la ponction de la vésicule embryonnaire comme groupe témoin ( = 5) ou l’injection d’une solution de 25 mg d’amikacine dans la vésicule embryonnaire ( = 5). Le taux de survie d’une vésicule était de 40 % avec les 2 techniques et le profil de la progestérone et du métabolite de la PGF étaient sans variation significative. Bien qu’il soit impossible de conclure sur l’efficacité de cette technique de réduction embryonnaire, ce modèle expérimental s’avère une approche intéressante pour de futures études sur la mortalité embryonnaire et la gémellité chez la jument. (Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)
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Publication Date: 2009-02-03 PubMed ID: 19183731PubMed Central: PMC2572093
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Summary

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The research article is about an experimental study conducted on mares to test the effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection for managing multiple pregnancies, which is a cause for major reproductive issues in mares.

Objective of the Study

The study primarily aims to establish an experimental model for studying twin pregnancies in mares using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection. This is an attempt to manage and reduce multiple or twin pregnancies in mares, which are significant contributing factors to noninfectious abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality.

Experiment Procedure

  • Mares in heat were initially inseminated and then implanted with an embryo on day 7 of the estrous cycle.
  • Progress checks on days 14 and 30 showed that 53.5% and 23% of the mares were carrying twins, respectively.
  • To reduce these twin pregnancies, two methods were used: a transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the embryonic vesicle (control group), and a transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection with 25 mg of amikacin into the embryonic vesicle.

Results of the Study

  • The experiment showed a 40% success rate with both methods.
  • There were no significant variations in the levels of progesterone and prostaglandin metabolite in the mares during this process.
  • Even though the effectiveness of the technique might not be very high, the experimental model could prove to be beneficial for future clinical research concerning embryo reduction and early embryonic loss.

The research is significant for equine veterinarians as this experimental model could pave the way for more efficient techniques and management practices to address the recurrent problem of multiple pregnancies in mares. The experimental model provides a base for further studies on factors influencing embryonic mortality and twin pregnancies in mares. However, more research is required to improve the success rate of these techniques.

Cite This Article

APA
Raggio I, Lefebvre RC, Poitras P, Vaillancourt D, Goff AK. (2009). Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction in mares. Can Vet J, 49(11), 1093-1098.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 11
Pages: 1093-1098

Researcher Affiliations

Raggio, Ignacio
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec.
Lefebvre, Réjean C
    Poitras, Pierre
      Vaillancourt, Denis
        Goff, Alan K

          MeSH Terms

          • Amikacin / therapeutic use
          • Animals
          • Female
          • Gestational Age
          • Horses
          • Pregnancy
          • Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / adverse effects
          • Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / methods
          • Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / veterinary
          • Pregnancy, Animal
          • Pregnancy, Multiple
          • Treatment Outcome
          • Twins
          • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / methods
          • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / veterinary

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