Persistent Breeding‐Induced Endometritis after Hysteroscopic Insemination in the Mare

Abstract

Low-dose insemination has been proposed to reduce persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) in mares with delayed uterine clearance (DUC). Others proposed that hysteroscopic insemination induces an exaggerated inflammatory response and should be avoided in DUC mares. The objectives here were to evaluate presence and severity of PBIE in normal and DUC mares after hysteroscopic insemination with fresh semen, and to determine if hysteroscopy could be used in DUC mares without inducing excessive inflammation. Reproductively normal (n = 4) and DUC (n = 5) mares received four treatments in random order: uterine body insemination (UB, 1 × 10(9) spermatozoa, 20 ml), hysteroscopic insemination (HYST, 5 × 10(6) spermatozoa, 0.5 ml), sham hysteroscopic insemination (SHAM, semen extender, 0.5 ml) and hysteroscopic infusion of seminal plasma (SP, 0.5 ml). Significantly more DUC (50%) mares than normal (14%) mares accumulated intrauterine fluid 24 h post-treatment. The difference in fluid accumulation between DUC (40%) mares and normal (7%) mares was also significant 48 h post-treatment. Fluid scores were not significantly different between treatments in normal mares. However, treatments HYST and SHAM resulted in significantly higher fluid scores 24 h but not 48 h post-treatment in DUC mares. There was no effect of treatment or mare group on the percentage and total number of neutrophils in uterine fluid 48 h post-treatment. Percentage of neutrophils was correlated with duration of hysteroscopy in normal mares, with procedures lasting ≥ 9 min associated with PBIE. There was no effect of mare group, treatment or duration of hysteroscopy on pregnancy rate. Hysteroscopy induces a transient inflammation that is not more severe than that after conventional artificial insemination, suggesting no contraindication to its use in DUC mares.

Feasibility and Safety of Endometrial Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mares

“…According to Ferrer [35], mares with delayed uterine clearance have in a significantly higher intrauterine fluid 24 hours but not 48 hours after hysteroscopic. However, fluid accumulation or endometrial edema was not observed in this study after hysteroscopic procedures.…”

Effect of Artificial Insemination Protocol and Dose of Frozen/Thawed Stallion Semen on Pregnancy Results in Mares

“…; Ferrer et al. ) of endoscopic inseminations showed that the results were worse when the insemination protocol took too much time due to a longer‐lasting post‐breeding endometritis. Moreover, the hypothesis that insemination technique might influence the degree of post‐breeding endometritis, and fluid accumulation is not consistent with the results of previous studies (Güvenc et al.…”

“…; Samper and Plough ) although other studies have demonstrated the opposite (Ferrer et al. ). Deep horn insemination by aid of a pipette might be an inexpensive alternative of equal value.…”

Pregnancy rates in mares inseminated with 0.5 or 1 million sperm using hysteroscopic or transrectally guided deep-horn insemination techniques

“…Controlled studies evaluating the relationship of DHI to endometritis have shown that DHI does not induce more inflammation within the uterus than does conventional UBI in reproductively normal mares [35,36]. Güvenc et al [35] These investigators concluded that TRG and insemination dose (concentration) did not affect the level of inflammation 24 h post-insemination in normal mares.…”

“…Güvenc et al [35] These investigators concluded that TRG and insemination dose (concentration) did not affect the level of inflammation 24 h post-insemination in normal mares. Ferrer et al [36] evaluated the amount of inflammation present in normal mares and in mares with delayed uterine clearance 48 h post-insemination with either 1 x 10 9 sperm (20 mL) with UBI, 5 x 10 6 sperm (0.5 mL) with HYS, semen extender (0.5 mL) with HYS, or spermfree seminal plasma (0.5 mL) with HYS. Severity of the inflammatory response was determined by ultrasonographically evaluating the amount of intrauterine fluid at 24 and 48 h post-insemination, and by evaluating the total number, concentration, and percentage of neutrophils in intrauterine fluid samples collected 48 h post-insemination with a tampon.…”