title: Effect of a povidone-iodine intrauterine infusion on progesterone levels and endometrial steroid receptor expression in mares.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrauterine infusions have been widely used for the treatment of endometritis in the mare. Nevertheless, their consequences on endocrine and endometrial molecular aspects are unknown. We studied the effect of a 1% povidone-iodine solution intrauterine infusion on progesterone levels, endometrial histology and estrogen (ERα) and progesterone (PR) receptor distribution by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy mares were used in this study. Estruses were synchronized and seven mares were treated with intrauterine infusions at days 0 and 2 post ovulation of two consecutive estrous cycles. Uterine biopsy samples were taken on days 6 and 15 post ovulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment did not induce an inflammatory response indicating endometritis, neither affected the ERα. However, it reduced the percentage of PR positive cells (PPC) on day 6 (deep glandular epithelium, control: 95.7 vs. infused: 61.5, P < 0.05). Treated mares tended to have lower progesterone levels on day 2 (3.9 ng/ml vs. 6.6 ng/ml, P = 0.07), and higher levels on day 15 compared with controls (4.4 ng/ml vs. 1.3 ng/ml, P = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  a 1% povidone-iodine infusion during days 0 and 2 post ovulation in healthy mares did not induce histological changes indicating endometritis, but altered progesterone concentrations and reduced the expression of endometrial PR at day 6 without affecting the ERα. These changes could reduce embryo survival.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uruguay. ikalpokas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalpokas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perdigón
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Marilina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talmon
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sartore
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viñoles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D004333:Drug Administration Routes / Q000662:veterinary; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D011206:Povidone-Iodine