Uterine vascular degeneration is present throughout the uterine wall of multiparous mares. Colinearity between elastosis, endometrial grade, age and parity.

The research article investigates the condition of the uterine vasculature in older, multiparous mares and correlates it with age, parity and endometrial grade. The study concludes that uterine vascular degeneration is present and associated with both the endometrial grade and the number of foals but not with the mare’s age.

Study Objectives

The main objectives of the study were:

• To assess the condition of the blood vessels in the uterus wall in older, multiparous mares.
• To find any correlation between the vascular condition and endometrial grade, age, and parity.

Research Methodology

The researchers conducted necropsy (post-mortem examination) studies on the full-thickness of uterine samples to analyze the condition of the blood vessels. They focused on identifying elastosis, a condition where tissues degrade and thicken due to abnormalities in the elastin fibers.

Research Findings

The research discovered:

• Elastosis was present in myometrial vessels, as well as in large arteries and veins.
• This vascular degeneration was associated with the number of foals and endometrial grade, but not associated with the mare’s age.
• Problems associated with chronic uterine infection and delayed uterine clearance, which impair uterine contractility, were related to the presence of elastosis in the vessels of the myometrium. These issues might be due to lack of blood flow in the myometrium.
• Degeneration of large vessels may represent a general compromise in uterine blood flow and fertility.

Conclusions

The study concluded with the identification of vascular elastosis in large myometrial vessels as well as in endometrial vessels. The primary factors associated with vascular degeneration were the number of foals a mare had given birth to, followed by the endometrial grade. However, the mare’s age had no relationship with vascular degeneration.