title: Altered secretion of selected arachidonic acid metabolites during subclinical endometritis relative to estrous cycle stage and grade of fibrosis in mares.
abstract: Mares that fail to become pregnant after repeated breeding, without showing typical signs of clinical endometritis, should be suspected of subclinical endometritis (SE). Contact with infectious agents results in altered synthesis and secretion of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, and disturbs endometrial functional balance. To address the hypothesis that SE affects the immune endocrine status of the equine endometrium, spontaneous secretion of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)), 6-keto-PGF(1α )(a metabolite of prostacyclin I(2)), leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)), and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) was examined. In addition, secretion of these factors was examined relative to the grade of inflammation, fibrosis, and estrous cycle stage. Eighty-two warmblood mares, of known breeding history, were enrolled in this study. On the basis of histopathologic assessment, mares were classified as suffering from first-grade SE, second-grade SE, or being healthy. The grade of fibrosis and the infiltration of endometrial tissue with polymorphonuclear leukocytes were examined by routine hematoxylin-eosin staining. In mares suffering from SE, the secretion profiles of PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF(1α), LTB(4), and LTC(4) were changed compared to mares that did not suffer from endometritis. The secretion of PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF1α was increased, whereas that of LTB(4) and LTC(4) was decreased. Secretion of 6-keto-PGF(1α) was increased in first- and second-grade SE (P < 0.01). The concentration of PGI(2) metabolite was increased only in inflamed endometrium, independently of the inflammation grade, but was not affected by fibrosis. Prostaglandin E(2) secretion was increased in second-grade SE (P < 0.05). The secretion of LTB(4) decreased in both first- and second-grade SE (P < 0.05), whereas secretion of LTC(4) was decreased only in second-grade SE (P < 0.05). Fibrosis did not change the secretion profile of PGE(2), PGF(2α), and 6-keto-PGF(1α) during the course of SE. However, the secretion profile of LTB(4) was affected during the course of fibrosis. Evident divergences between PGE(2) and PGF(2α) profiles and in PGE2:PGF(2α) ratios in the control versus SE mares observed during the course of diestrus contribute to shortened or prolonged interestrous intervals observed clinically in SE mares.
authors.affiliation: EQUI-MEDICA Equine Practice, Chojnice, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gajos
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Science, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kozdrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Science, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: m.siemieniuch@pan.olsztyn.pl.
authors.forename: Marta J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Siemieniuch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D011453:Prostaglandins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid
keywords: Endometritis; Leukotriene; Mare; Prostaglandin