Equine Repro Flashcards
What areas of the equine repro tract harbor bacteria?
Clitoral fossa
Clitoral sinuses
What is the most sensitive organ to hormonal stimulation in the horse?
Cervix
Describe the cervix under the influence of progesterone
Closed
Dry
Homogenous appearance on ultrasound
Describe the cervix under the influence of estrogen
Low relaxed moist hypertrophic and edematous "cartwheel" shaped n ultrasound
Describe the cervix during midestrus
Moist and on the floor of the vagina
Dorsal frenulum is present
What is different about the cervix of the equine compared to other species?
always dilatable due to the absence of fibrous rings
Describe the Uterus in the mare compared to the cow
Y- or T-shaped ovaries
more lateral than cow
Why are the endometrial folds critical in the equine repro tract?
reproductive management
defense
Where do you find unfertilized ova in the equine?
Oviduct
When do fertilized ova descend into the uterus?
day 5.5
What causes the Uterotubule junction to open?
PGE
What is the function of the oviduct in the equine?
Sperm storage
Fertilization site
embryo transport
What is the hormone for maternal recognition in equine?
Prostaglandin E2
When would you flush the equine for embryo transfer?
day 7-8
What is the size of a mature follicle?
40+ mm
Where do follicles ovulate in the ovary?
ovulation fossa
Why does the follicle change shape when it ovulates?
as the follicle migrates to the ovulation fossa it changes shape from spherical to oblong
How many glands are in each side of the mare’s udder?
2 glands
What is the only pathology of the mare’s udder?
Mastitis
What gland is responsible for the mare’s cyclic breeding?
Pineal gland
What type of breeders are equine?
Long day breeders
Describe how melatonine affects GnRH
High levels of Melatonin in dark days inhibit production of GnRH
Low levels of Melatonin produce GnRH
What happens to Mares during Winter anestrous?
About 30% show heat but only half ovulate
What happens during the Spring Transition in mares?
Begin to display heat but may not ovulate
Describe the uterus in anestrous
no ovarian activity
uterus is flaccid with no tone
When should you start putting the mare under lights to stimulate estrous?
60 days before
How many hours of light do you need to expose the mare to to affect her seasonality?
16 hours of daylight
Describe the Transitional period in mares
Mares have multiple variable size follicles
Uterus has estrual tone, evidence of uterine edema
Displays signs of estrus for variable length of time
Ends with the first ovulation of the year
How can you reduce the length of the Transitional period?
Progesterone Progestagens Dopamine antagonists Domperidone Sulpiride
What would cause a mare to mount another mare?
testosterone secreting pathology
What can you use to induce ovulation?
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Deslorelin injectable
Recombinant LH
What is the problem with hCG?
High antigenicity due to the large molecule size
What is the advantage of using Deslorelin (GnRH)?
Induces more effectively and over a shorter period of time
When does the CL reach maximum maturity level?
day 4-5
What are possible causes of failure to respond to ovulatory inducing agents?
“immature follicles” with not enough LH receptors
Mares are not in estrus even though a large follicle is present
Anovulatory follicles
HAF
Hemorrhagic Anovulatory Follicles
Hemorrhagic Anovulatory Follicles (HAF)
Fails to ovulate in response to ovulatory inducing agents
What are the options for luteolysis and estrus induction?
PGF 2 alpha
Cloprostenol
What is the estrus interval average after luteolysis?
3-5 days
What is the ovulation interval after luteolysis?
8-10 days
Where is PGF 2 alpha metabolized?
in the lungs
What are the side effects of PGF 2 alpha?
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
sweating
When is the CL responsive to prostaglandin?
5 days
What are the wrong used of Prostaglandin?
Ovulation induction
Uterine evacuation post-ovulation
Induction of parturition
What determines the interval between prostaglandin injection and ovulation?
Size of the follicle at the time of treatment
What are the factors that maximize your chances of a pregnant mare?
Good management
Clean Mare
Good Timing
Good semen
How many days from the time of ovulation to the next time the mare shows heat?
15 days
How often can a stallion breed per day?
2-4 times
What is the limiting factor for number o times a stallion breeds per day?
Libido
Describe Endometrial Edema Grade 4
Thicker Hypo-echoic center Hyper-echoic wall More prominent at the uterine body but still maintains a nice uterine architecture "cart wheel"
Describe Endometrial Edema Grade 5
Hyper-edema
Very thick endometrial folds loss of “normal” US architecture
Increased surface area, often free fluid not observed
Follicles variable
When should you breed pre-ovulation with natural breeding in the mare?
72-48 hours pre ovulation
When should you breed pre-ovulation with Fresh semen in the mare?
less than 48 hours pre ovulation
When should you breed pre-ovulation with fresh cooled semen in the mare?
24-36 hours pre ovulation
When should you breed pre-ovulation with frozen semen in the mare?
less than 12 hours pre ovulation
Why do we not want to inseminate post ovulation in the mare?
DNA damage is very quick once the egg is released
Definition of proper artificial insemination
Deposition of good quality semen into the uterus of a clean mare at the right time
What are the advantages of AI in the mare?
Maximize efficiency of stallion usage
Increase genetic pool due to increased availability of stallions
More regular evaluation of stallion semen
Reduce risk of sexually transmittable diseases
Increases safety of animals and handlers
What is the main factor contributing to sperm migration to the oviduct of the mare?
Uterine contractility
Where are sperm deposited in the mare?
Uterus
What is responsible for eliminating excess fluid from the uterus in the mare?
Myometrial contractions
What is the order of fertility in mares?
- Young Maiden Mare
- Early Foaling Mares
- Barren Mares
- Old Maiden Mares
What type of insemination is used in mares to reduce inflammation and increase pregnancy rates with difficult stallions?
Deep Horn Insemination
What is the order of best treatment options for mares that do not become pregnant when bred with good semen under excellent management conditions?
- Embryo transfer
- Oocyte transfer
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
What are the indications for embryo transfer in mares?
Young mares in competition
Mares with severe uterine problems
More than one foal a year
Biopsy for desired outcome (HERDA, HYPP, GEBD, EPSM, Gender)
Indications for Cytoplasmic Sperm injection
Old mares where it is not possible to retrieve an embryo
Oviductal disease
Mares that have died
Use of stallions with very limited amount of semen available
Indications for Oocyte transfer
Old mares where it is not possible to retrieve an embryo
Oviductal disease
Mares with unexplained infertility
Describe proper vulvar conformation
vulva is 1/3 above and 2/3 below the pelvic bone
What is the most reliable way to examine the patency of the cervix?
digital examination during diestrus
What happens in maiden mares cervixes?
cervix will start to loose its functional integrity
The muscle layer undergoes a marked atrophy and the cervix becomes a collagenous tube that does not dilate
What are the different pathology of the cervix in the mare?
Fails to relax and open during estrus
Fails to close during diestrus
Adhesions
What is the most common bacteria causing endometritis in mares?
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
Escherichia coli
When would you perform a uterine biopsy?
Repeated embyronic death Repeated abortions Fail to respond to treatment Unable to diagnose uterine pathology with routine swab Prognosis of pregnancy
Grade III Uterine Biopsy
Severe fibrosis
Nest of glands isolated throughout the uterus
Severe damage to the uterus
What happens to edema as the mare reaches ovulation?
Edema starts to decrease toward ovulation
When do you see the most significant decrease in edema before ovulation in the mare?
18-36 hours pre ovulation
If you see high uterine edema what does that signal in the mare?
Low fertility
What are the causes of Failure to cycle in the mare?
Winter anestrous Transitional mare Pregnancy Endocrine Uterine Pathology
What causes Prolonged diestrus/pseudopregnancy in the mare?
CL lifespan prolonged beyond day 15
Diestral ovulations
Early embryonic death after maternal recognition of pregnancy 15-35 days
Failure of PGF 2 alpha release due to uterine abnormality: pyometra
What is the cause of Failure to cycle?
Aged mares stop cycling Limited number of oocytes Low body condition score negative energy balance Anterior Pituitary dysfunction Adrenal problem Tumors
What is the most common Gondal dysgenesis in the mare?
Turner’s Syndrome: small ovaries and infantile tract
What is the most common hermaphrodite?
Male Hermaphrodite
What are the tumors of the mare repro tract?
Teratoma Dysgerminoma Cystadenoma Granulosa cell tumor Granulosa-thecal cell tumor
What is the most common tumor of the equine repro tract?
Granulosa-Thecal Cell tumor
Clinical signs of Granulosa-Thecal cell tumors
Aggressive
Nymphomania
stallion-like
Anestrus
What is the treatment of Granulosa-Thecal cell tumors?
Remove ovary
How do you diagnose Granulosa-Thecal cell tumor in mares?
Measure Inhibin
What are the barriers to infection?
Vulva
vestibulo-vaginal fold
Cervix
Types of Endometritis in the mare
Breeding induced Persistent breeding induced Acute Bacterial Chronic Bacterial Chronic Degenerative
What causes Persistent Breeding Induced Endometritis in the mare?
Mares unable to evacuate residual fluid from the uterus due to poor uterine contractility or a poorly relaxed cervix are categorized as susceptible to uterine infections
What are the effects of uterine pathology on ovarian function?
Anestrus
Short luteal phases
Prolonged luteal phases
What type of bacteria causes short luteal phases?
Gram negative bacteria
What does Gram positive bacteria cause in the mare?
Inflammation affecting the uterine lining causing PGF 2 alpha to not be released
When should we culture the biopsy in the mare?
Mares that continue to accumulate fluid
Mares that ovulate with hyper-edema
Mares that show premature presence of uterine edema
Therapy for Persistent Mating induced Endometritis
Reduce the degree of inflammation
Reduce the time the fluid is accumulated
What are the predisposing factors of Chronic bacterial or fungal endometritis?
Poor perineal conformation
Cervical incompetence
Poor uterine contractility
What is the therapy for Biofilms in mares?
Acetylcisteine DMSO EDTA Gentocin Kerosene
Cause of Early embryonic death
Embryonic abnormalities Insufficient maternal P4 Failed MRP stress disease Inadequate endometrium Endometritis
Signs of Embryonic Death
Small size for gestational age
Irregular vesicle prior to day 20
Absence of a heart beat at day 28-30
Free fluid or disseminated edema in a pregnant mare