Variation in glycogen and mucins in the equine uterus related to physiologic and pathologic conditions.
Abstract: Histochemical stains were applied to six equine uterine biopsies representative of the physiologic breeding season, Spring and Fall transition, and Winter anestrus periods. These were compared with uterine biopsies from six mares with intrauterine urine pooling, eight mares used to study the uterine response to indwelling catheterization, and necropsy specimens from four pregnant mares at approximately 60 or 100 d of gestation. Alcian blue staining at pH 2.5 or 1.0 was used to identify the presence of carboxylated and sulfated acid mucins or only suflated acid mucins, respectively. Periodic acid-Schiff staining was used to identify neutral mucosubstances or glycogen, with or without prior diastase digestion. The uterine glands contained glycogen, which was most abundant during the physiologic breeding season. The luminal epithelial cells during the physiologic breeding season and Spring and Fall transition contained predominately carboxylated acid mucins. Carboxylated acid mucin secretion also was stimulated by indwelling catheterization and intrauterine urine pooling. It is hypothesized that secretion of carboxylated acid mucins by the endometrial epithelium may be elicited by hormonal or irritative/inflammatory stimuli, and it may be a protective response.
Publication Date: 1990-04-01 PubMed ID: 16726776DOI: 10.1016/0093-691x(90)90815-bGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigated the variation in uterine glycogen and mucins in horses. The variation was analyzed in line with both normal physiological conditions, such as the breeding season, and specific pathologic states, like intrauterine urine accumulation.
Research Design and Methodology
- The researchers used histochemical stains on six uterine biopsies from horses to study the variations across various physiological states. This included the breeding season, Spring and Fall transition, and the Winter anestrus period (no estrous cycle).
- They then compared this data with uterine biopsies from other different pathological or altered physiological states such as from six mares suffering from intrauterine urine pooling, eight mares with an indwelling catheter used for studying uterine response, and necropsy specimens from four pregnant horses at about 60 or 100 days into gestation.
- The presence of various mucins was identified using Alcian blue staining at different pH levels, while the Periodic acid-Schiff staining was used to identify neutral mucosubstances or glycogen.
Findings
- Glycogen was discovered in the uterine glands and was most abundant during the breeding season.
- Carboxylated acid mucins were mainly found in luminal epithelial cells during the breeding season as well as Spring and Fall transition.
- The secretion of carboxylated acid mucin was also stimulated by indwelling catheterization and intrauterine urine pooling.
- The researchers speculate that the secretion of carboxylated acid mucins by the endometrial epithelium might be elicited by hormonal or irritative/inflammatory stimuli, indicating it as a possible protective response by the equine uterus.
Significance of the Study
- This research uncovers valuable insights into the presence and variation of glycogen and mucins in equine uteri across different physiological and pathological states. The results may provide a better understanding of the equine reproductive physiology and response to pathological alteration.
Cite This Article
APA
Freeman KP, Roszel JF, Slusher SH, Castro M.
(1990).
Variation in glycogen and mucins in the equine uterus related to physiologic and pathologic conditions.
Theriogenology, 33(4), 799-808.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(90)90815-b Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Bramer SA, Macedo A, Klein C. Hexokinase 2 drives glycogen accumulation in equine endometrium at day 12 of diestrus and pregnancy. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2017 Jan 5;15(1):4.
- Reilas T, Katila T, Mäkelä O, Huhtinen M, Koskinen E. Intrauterine fluid accumulation in oestrous mares. Acta Vet Scand 1997;38(1):69-78.
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