title: Serum progesterone concentration in pyometritic and normal postpartum dairy cows.
abstract: Two studies were conducted to evaluate the concentration of serum progesterone in pyometritic cows and relate it to palpation of ovarian structures per rectum . In Trial 1, serum samples from 34 pyometritic cows were assayed for progesterone. Mean serum progesterone concentrations were 6.8 +/- 0.7 ng/ml. In Trial 2, each of 54 pyometritic cows was paired with a control cow on the basis of days post partum (18-50 days). Mean concentration of progesterone was 9.7 +/- 1.0 ng/ml for the pyometritic cows and 5.7 +/- 0.8 ng/ml in control cows (P<0.005). Progesterone concentration was greater (P<0.005) in both groups of cows with palpable corpora lutea (CLs). Ninety-six percent of the pyometritic cows had palpable CLs compared to 57% of the control group. Comparing serum progesterone only in cows with a palpable CL, the mean concentration was still greater (P<0.005) in the pyometritic group (10.6 +/- 1.0 ng/ml) than the control group (6.6 +/- 1.0 ng/ml). Compatability of rectal palpation findings and concentrations of serum progesterone were 92.6% for the pyometritic group and 72.2% for the control group. Progesterone concentration increased (P<0.05) by increased days post partum in Trial 2 (n=54) but not in Trial 1 (n=23). In both Trials 1 and 2, uterine size due to pyometra increased (P<0.05) with increased days post partum. No other associations were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Huffman
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Farin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abbitt