title: Effect of sperm numbers and concentration on sperm transport and uterine inflammatory response in the mare.
abstract: Our objective was to determine whether the concentration of cooled sperm inseminated influenced sperm transport and intensity of the uterine inflammatory reaction 2, 4 and 24h after insemination. Experimental subjects were 189 estrous mares with a dominant follicle > or =35 mm in diameter and no bacterial growth or neutrophils detected in uterine smears. Each mare was randomly assigned to receive one of the following intrauterine treatments (volume, 20 mL): insemination with 5x10(6) mL(-1) or 25x10(6) mL(-1) or 50x10(6) mL(-1) sperm diluted in 3 mL seminal plasma (SP) and 17 mL skim milk; seminal plasma or skim milk extender. Mares in a control group received no intrauterine treatment. Mares were slaughtered 2, 4 or 24h after insemination or infusion. Oviducts were separated from the uterus, and uterus and oviducts were then flushed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). After flushing, an endometrial sample was collected for further histopathological examination. The grade of uterine fibrosis and the amount of neutrophils in the stratum compactum were evaluated. A sample of each tubal flushing was examined for sperm count, and a sample of each uterine flushing was examined for PMN count. It was concluded that compounds in the insemination dose provoked a uterine inflammatory response, which was more rapid and intense as sperm concentration increased. In contrast, sperm transport through 4h after insemination was not influenced by sperm concentration.
authors.affiliation: Reprolab-Departamento de Medicina Animal, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Caixa Postal 15039, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Mara
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Cláudio Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Gelpi
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Ricardo Macedo
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Rodrigo Costa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mattos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary*; D013083:Sperm Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*