Luteal Tissue Area and Immunoreactive Concentration of Progesterone in Plasma of Bred and Non-bred Mares. 2022

Ilaria Colombo, and Giorgia Podico, and Alba Rudolf-Vegas, and Stefan Bauersachs, and Igor F Canisso
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana (IL); Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy.

Progesterone is pivotal to maintain pregnancy in the first trimester and low concentration (<4 ng/mL) has been associated with early pregnancy loss. Measurement of progesterone is widely used in practice to determine whether a mare needs progestin supplementation. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine progesterone concentration and the luteal tissue area in mares non-bred, and those bred becoming pregnant, and those failing to become pregnant. We hypothesized that pregnant mares have greater progesterone concentration than non-pregnant mares. Fifty-two cycles of mares (n = 14) were monitored by ultrasonography every other day until detection of a pre-ovulatory follicle. Then deslorelin acetate was administered to induce ovulation. Twenty-four hours later, mares were bred (∼2 billion progressively motile sperm extended in 50 mL; n = 37 cycles) or a sham-bred (50 mL of extender; n = 15 cycles). Ovulation was confirmed and number of corpora lutea and the luteal tissue area were recorded daily until 10-days post-ovulation. Progesterone concentration was assessed daily from the day of the ovulation up to 10-days post-ovulation. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out at 10- and 13-days post-ovulation. Of the bred mares, 20 of them became pregnant and 17 did not. Data were analyzed with a mixed model, Tukey's test as post-hoc, and Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Progesterone concentration and luteal tissue area varied with time (P = .001) but not with group (P > .05). Multiple ovulations were associated with greater progesterone concentration and luteal tissue area (P = .0001). There was a moderate positive association between the number of ovulations and luteal tissue area (r = 0.54; P = .0001). The lack of change in the progesterone concentration and luteal tissue area between bred and non-bred mares suggests that horse seminal plasma does not affect luteal function in mares. As all mares had progesterone above 4 ng/mL after 5-days post-ovulation; it is possible that if mares with abnormal progesterone concentration were used, the results could have been different. In conclusion, pregnancy was not associated with greater progesterone concentration or luteal tissue area.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010060 Ovulation The discharge of an OVUM from a rupturing follicle in the OVARY. Ovulations
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011374 Progesterone The major progestational steroid that is secreted primarily by the CORPUS LUTEUM and the PLACENTA. Progesterone acts on the UTERUS, the MAMMARY GLANDS and the BRAIN. It is required in EMBRYO IMPLANTATION; PREGNANCY maintenance, and the development of mammary tissue for MILK production. Progesterone, converted from PREGNENOLONE, also serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of GONADAL STEROID HORMONES and adrenal CORTICOSTEROIDS. Pregnenedione,Progesterone, (13 alpha,17 alpha)-(+-)-Isomer,Progesterone, (17 alpha)-Isomer,Progesterone, (9 beta,10 alpha)-Isomer
D003338 Corpus Luteum The yellow body derived from the ruptured OVARIAN FOLLICLE after OVULATION. The process of corpus luteum formation, LUTEINIZATION, is regulated by LUTEINIZING HORMONE. Corpora Lutea,Lutea, Corpora
D005260 Female Females
D006734 Horse Diseases Diseases of domestic and wild horses of the species Equus caballus. Equine Diseases,Disease, Equine,Disease, Horse,Diseases, Equine,Diseases, Horse,Equine Disease,Horse Disease
D006736 Horses Large, hoofed mammals of the family EQUIDAE. Horses are active day and night with most of the day spent seeking and consuming food. Feeding peaks occur in the early morning and late afternoon, and there are several daily periods of rest. Equus caballus,Equus przewalskii,Horse, Domestic,Domestic Horse,Domestic Horses,Horse,Horses, Domestic
D000034 Abortion, Veterinary Premature expulsion of the FETUS in animals. Veterinary Abortion,Abortions, Veterinary,Veterinary Abortions
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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