UTERINE LUMINAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE MARE by

.....................................................................................................................6 LIST OF ORIGINAL ARTICLES ....................................................................................8 ABBREVIATIONS...........................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................10 REVIEW OF LITERATURE..........................................................................................11 1. Uterine luminal environment ..................................................................................11 1.1. Effect of steroid hormones...............................................................................11 1.2. Introduction of micro-organisms into the uterus .............................................13 1.3. Endometrial inflammation ...............................................................................14 1.4. Uterine involution ............................................................................................17 2. Examination methods of uterine luminal environment ...........................................20 2.1. Transrectal palpation and ultrasonography......................................................20 2.2. Endoscopy........................................................................................................20 2.3. Sampling of uterine luminal contents .............................................................20 3. Diagnostic and prognostic value of uterine samples ...............................................21 3.1. Uterine cytology ..............................................................................................21 3.2. Bacterial cultures .............................................................................................22 3.3. Uterine histology..............................................................................................23 3.4. Biochemical analysis of uterine fluid ..............................................................23 3.5. Predicting foal heat fertility .............................................................................27 AIMS OF THE STUDY..................................................................................................28 MATERIALS AND METHODS ....................................................................................29 1. Animals ...................................................................................................................29 2. Experimental design................................................................................................29 2.1. Hormone treatments and bacterial inoculation (I) ...........................................29 2.2. Post-breeding study (II) ...................................................................................29 2.3. Fluid accumulation study (III) .........................................................................31 2.4. Involution study (IV) .......................................................................................31 2.5. Foal heat fertility study (V) .............................................................................31 3. Ovulation control and ultrasonography...................................................................31 4. Inseminations (II, III, V) .........................................................................................32 5. Hormone replacement therapy (I) ...........................................................................32 6. Intrauterine streptococcal inoculation (I) ................................................................32 7. Embryo recovery (III, V) ........................................................................................33 8. Sampling of the uterus ............................................................................................33 8.1. Endometrial swabs (I, IV)................................................................................33 8.2. Uterine lavage (I, II, IV, V) .............................................................................33 8.3. Tampon technique (III) ....................................................................................34 8.4. Endometrial biopsy (I, III) ...............................................................................34 9. Counting of neutrophils...........................................................................................34 10. Bacteriological examination..................................................................................35 11. Histological examination ......................................................................................35 12. Biochemical analyses ............................................................................................35 12.1. Total protein (I, III-V)....................................................................................35