title: [Is there a predictable correlation between time of birth, birth and the puerperal period and clinical and hormonal findings in horses?].
abstract: The investigations were done on 108 mares (78 warm-blooded horses, 25 cold-blooded horses and 5 trotters). To pursue the question in the title, progesterone and estradiol values in jugular vein-blood were examined starting from 30 days before the calculated date of parturition until 30 days after that event. In parallel to that Ca/Mg ratio was measured by means of a semiquantitative test-strip in the milk. Clinical signs of the birth, parturition itself and the post partum period were recorded. In respect to the P4 and E2 values it was that the P4:E2 ratio changed towards parturition in favour to E2 which was interpreted as a sign for the beginning of labour contractions as well as a signal to the ovarian hormonal activity and feed-back regulation. The "predict of the foal-test" by measuring Ca/Mg ratio is helpful only in combination with clinical findings. This test can be used for the decision to induce parturition. Concerning the colour and viscosity of the milk, it was observed to change from grey-aqueous 48 h a.p. through grey-brownish 24 h a.p. to white-yellow and viscous 12 h a.p. The results show that heavy mares more often retain the fetal membranes. They often bear lighter offspring with equally lighter fetal membranes, and the surfaces of the microvilli of the microcotyledonas seem to be smaller. Beside this it is concluded that during pregnancy disturbances in the fetomaternal relations probably exist as a result of a deficiency in placental development that finally results in retention secundinarum.
authors.affiliation: Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin der Freien Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Glatzel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kangasniemi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Belz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol