evaluation of the cyclic changes in mare reproductive system comparing biopsy and endoscopic methods

during a period of one year, reproductive status of twenty one healthy maiden and parous turkaman cross bred mares were studied during breeding and non breeding seasons the reproductive health and fertility of the mares ranging 3 -13 years of age were confirmed by taking history, performing rectal palpation and studying endometrial culture, cytology and histology. stages of the oestrous cycles were determined by daily teasing and rectal palpation, the findings were compared with those of the hysteroscopic and histologic alternations of the endometrium. aerophilic and microaerophilic bacterial cultures were prepared from endometrial swabs. twelve cases of 21 mares were in estrous and 9 cases were in diestrous periods. three biopsy specimens out of 21 were diagnosed in grade 1 and 18 cases in grade iia of the kenney & doig (1986) classification. there was 71% agreement between the diagnosis of estrous using biopsy and teasing - rectal palpation methods. there was a statistically significant difference between the diagnosis of the stage of estrous cycle using biopsy and compared with teasing - rectal palpation methods,(kappa coeffcient=0.47). there were six cases in estrous which diagnosed diestrous using biopsy method, however, they were more than nine years of age. chronic degenerative endometrial disease is an inevitable result of senility. it seems that detection of the estrous cycle using endometrial biopsy samples should be conducted cautiously, especially in mares over 9 years of age there was an 81% agreement between diagnosis of estrous cycle by comparing endoscopic with teasing - rectal palpation methods. using mcnemar test, there was no significant difference between diagnosis of estrus cycle by endoscopic and teasing - rectal palpation.methods. kappa coefficient test was 0.6. e. coli and alcaligenes were isolated from endometrial cultures in anestrous, whereas strep spp, staph spp, alcaligenes and e. coli were isolated in cyclic mares. no bacteria were isolated from microaerophilic cultures in charcoal agar having co2, endoscopic examinations were well tolerated by all the mares and no adverse effects were noted. the clinicians are recommended to perform hysteroscopic examination during dietstrous injecting a prostaglandin f2a analogue after the examination to induce luteolysis and rapid return to estrous. in conclusion, endoscopic evaluation of the uterus is a useful method to accertain the reproductive health and has the advantage to that of microscpic method.