title: Pathological changes of the mare endometrium and genotypes for transferrin and ELA.
abstract: Histological features of the endometrium, as assessed in biopsy samples, were related to Standardbred mare genotypes for transferrin, esterase (as a control) and equine leucocyte antigens (ELA). Pathological changes were found more frequently in each successively older age group of mares. Among mares aged 6-19 years, there were significant pathologic changes on first examination following an infertile breeding season for 46 of 90 (51%) of transferrin homozygotes and 50 of 146 (34%) of transferrin heterozygotes. The difference between the two groups was significant for the total data (chi 1(2) = 6.56, P = 0.010) and when the data were stratified for mare age at biopsy (chi 1(2) = 7.33, P = 0.0068). The effect of transferrin was similar in both trotters and pacers, especially for frequent genotypes commonly found in horses of both gaits. There was no effect of esterase and, in a smaller set of ELA-typed mares, no significant effect of ELA genotype on uterine biopsy category. Transferrin has a well-established microbiostatic and biocidal effect. Conceivably, heterozygotes for some combinations of transferrin variants could have a slower natural rate of endometrial deterioration than homozygotes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Weitkamp
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: MacCluer
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sertich
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D014168:Transferrin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D014168:Transferrin