title: The effect of puerperal uterine disease on histopathologic findings and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines of the endometrium in dairy cows.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of puerperal uterine disease on histopathologic findings and gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the endometrium of postpuerperal dairy cows; 49 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were divided into two groups, one without (UD-; n = 29) and one with uterine disease (UD+; n = 21), defined as retained fetal membranes and/or clinical metritis. General clinical examination, vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and transrectal B-mode sonography were conducted on days 8, 11, 18, and 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 (Day 0 = day of calving). The first endometrial sampling (ES1; swab and biopsy) was done during estrus around Day 42 and the second endometrial sampling (ES2) during the estrus after synchronization (cloprostenol between days 55 and 60 and GnRH 2 days later). The prevalence of histopathologic evidence of endometritis, according to the categories used here, and positive bacteriologic cultures was not affected by group (P > 0.05), but cows with uterine disease had a higher prevalence of chronic purulent endometritis (ES1; P = 0.07) and angiosclerosis (ES2; P ≤ 0.05) than healthy cows. Endometrial gene expression of IL1α (ES2), IL1β (ES2), and TNFα (ES1 and ES2) was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the UD+ group than in the UD- group. In conclusion, puerperal uterine disease had an effect on histopathologic parameters and on gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the endometrium of postpuerperal cows, indicating impaired clearance of uterine inflammation in cows with puerperal uterine disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: maike.heppelmann@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heppelmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinert
authors.affiliation: Physiology Weihenstephan, Technical University Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ulbrich
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brömmling
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piechotta
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Westphalia, Pathology and Bacteriology, Arnsberg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merbach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: H-A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schoon
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoedemaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animals, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bollwein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Biopsy; Endometritis; Histopathology; Metritis; Retained fetal membranes