Scanning electron microscopy of the endometrium of mares infused with gentamicin.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the endometrium of nine 1-year-old thoroughbred mares after twice intrauterine infusions of gentamicin, on 2 consecutive days. Five mares were infused on 2 consecutive days with 40 ml gentamicin (50 mg/ml) mixed with 80 ml of normal saline. Four mares served as controls and were infused with 120 ml of saline on 2 consecutive days. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from all mares 3 days after the second intrauterine infusion. Each biopsy was processed for SEM by standard methods. The endometrial epithelium of the gentamicin-infused mares had more cellular perforations than the saline-infused mares. The gentamicin-infused mares had less and shorter microvilli. The ciliated cells were fewer and some ciliated cells had disrupted and some had drooping cilia. The endometrial epithelium of the gentamicin-infused mares had a considerable number of endometrial cells that lost their luminal surfaces and some that lost their microvilli, compared to the saline-infused mares. We suggest that the information gathered in this pilot study should be used as basis for further investigation, on a larger scale basis, of the effects of repeated intrauterine infusion of gentamicin on the endometrial mucosa of mares.
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. albagdadi@mail.vetmed.lsu.edu
F K
FK
Al-Bagdadi
B E
BE
Eilts
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Richardson
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006736:Horses; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins