title: Sampling techniques for oviductal and uterine luminal fluid in cattle.
abstract: Analysis of luminal fluid microenvironments in the reproductive tract is pivotal to elucidate embryo-maternal signaling mechanisms responsible for successful reproduction in mammals, including cattle. Besides facilitating production of an optimized medium for in vitro fertilization and embryo culture in assisted reproductive technologies, screening of luminal fluid constituents in the oviduct and uterus could also provide critical information for elucidation of mechanisms underlying developmental programming. A key issue in this type of research is the sampling of luminal fluids. In this review we discuss the sampling techniques available for bovine species, including a recent in situ technique developed with the Ghent device, which allows rapid recovery of measurable amounts of pure uterine luminal fluid with minimal disturbance to the donor animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Höltystrasse 10 Mariensee, 31535 Neustadt, Germany.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Velazquez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parrilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Soom
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verberckmoes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kues
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D005187:Fallopian Tubes; D005260:Female; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus