Patterns of uterine myoelectrical activity in reproductively normal mares in late gestation and in mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis

Abstract

Intrauterine pressure was measured in 4 reproductively normal mares and 4 mares with delay in uterine clearance after administration of oxytocin to determine if intrauterine pressure varied between dosage and group. Changes in intrauterine pressure were measured during estrus, when a follicle was ≥ 35 mm, using a Millar “Mikro-tip”® catheter that had 3 discrete pressure sensors/channels . Mares received 4 different treatments of 10, 5, 2.5 or 0 IU (vehicle) of oxytocin. The protocol for each treatment consisted of a 10-min baseline recording, administration of treatment and measurement of changes in intrauterine pressure for 65 min. After administration of the first two treatments, mares were rested for 2 h and the protocol repeated for the remaining 2 treatments. Changes in intrauterine pressure were measured on a physiograph and stored in a computer. The results were analyzed by 4×4 Latin Square Design analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the GLM procedure of the Statistical Analysis System. The ANOVA detected a main effect of treatment (P <0.01) and mare (nested within group; P <0.01) but no effect of channels, group or treatment-by-group interaction. There was a dose-dependent increase in uterine activity in both normal mares and those with delayed uterine clearance. A dose of 10 IU of oxytocin induced a larger number of uterine contractions (5.67 ± 0.06) for a longer time (24.09 ± 1.18 min) than the 5 IU (4.16 ± 0.06 contractions and 16.31 ± 1.18; P <0.01 min) or 2.5 IU dose (4.08 ± 0.06 contractions and 17.61 ± 1.18 min). The first intrauterine wave occurred most often near the tip of the horn in 10 of 12 recordings in normal mares and in 8 of 12 recordings in mares with delayed uterine clearance. It was then propagated from the middle of the horn to the uterine body just cranial to the cervix. There was no pattern of propagation for subsequent intrauterine pressure waves. We conclude that the difference in spontaneous clearance of the uterus between the 2 groups is not reflected in their response to exogenous oxytocin as determined by changes in intrauterine pressure.