Influence of estrogen on antibacterial and immunoglobulin secretory activities of uterine fluids from ovariectomized mares.

Effect of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) on uterine antibacterial activity and immunoglobulin concentrations in mares was studied. In 2 in vitro experiments, 6 mixed-breed mares were ovariectomized, and uterine fluid and blood serum were analyzed. Antibacterial assay methods were used to determine inhibitory effects on Streptococcus zooepidemicus of uterine fluid samples collected on days 3, 5, and 8, and serum obtained on day 8 of treatment. Single radial immunodiffusion methods were used to quantify amounts of IgA and IgG in uterine fluid and serum on days 3, 5, 8, and 14 of treatment. Neither E2 nor P4 increased activity of serum and uterine fluid against S zooepidemicus. Numbers of colony-forming units per milliliter of bacteria were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in control Hanks' balanced salt solution with 1.0% gelatin (HBSSG) than in uterine fluids. Bacterial numbers were significantly (50%) greater in uterine fluids and serum than in HBSSG controls for both treatments. Both fluids, especially serum, supported significantly (P < 0.01) more growth of S zooepidemicus than did HBSSG when incubated for 0, 2, and 4 hours. These findings are in contrast to previous reports of antibacterial activity in the uterus of sexually intact mares undergoing an estrous cycle: great reduction of bacterial count in uterine fluid from mares in diestrus, and significant increases in bacterial numbers in uterine fluid or serum from mares in estrus. Treatment comparisons between serum and uterine fluid IgA and IgG concentrations were not significantly different, although overall IgA concentration in the uterus was higher than concentration in serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biologic interaction of prostaglandin, thromboxane and prostacyclin: potential clinical applications.

Prostaglandins are vasoactive agents which have potent and varied effects depending on the species, conditions and organs tested. The clinician wishing to gain a significant overview of the field from current research literature has a demanding task for himself. A review of biologic interactions is exactly what is needed in a consideration of possible clinical applications of prostaglandins. Thus, it is necessary first to recount the last five years' advances in prostaglandin research. Only then will the listing and discussion of some diseases soon to benefit from the application of research be meaningful.

Production of estradiol by each ovary during the estrous cycle of cows.

The objective of our experiment was to examine changes in serum concentrations of estradiol in each utero-ovarian vein before, during and after gonadotropin surges. Four cows were given prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) during diestrus and three cows were allowed to cycle spontaneously. All cows had a cannula in each utero-ovarian vein and in one jugular vein. Most cows had two transient rises in estradiol, primarily coming from a single ovary, preceding and after luteinizing hormone (LH) surges. The first rise in estradiol began after luteal regression and was sustained from 48 h before a pre-ovulatory LH surge to the end of the LH surge. The second rise in estradiol was sustained from 72 to 168 h after the end of an LH surge. To determine how rapidly asymmetrical production of estradiol began during luteolysis, several cows were injected with PGF2 alpha during the luteal phase. Blood samples were taken from a jugular and both utero-ovarian veins at hourly intervals before and after PGF2 alpha. Asymmetrical production of estradiol began within 3 h after an injection of PGF2 alpha. We concluded: (1) that a single ovary was responsible for the sustained increases in concentration of estradiol that occur during proestrus to estrus and early diestrus in cows and (2) that cows may have at least one follicle capable of producing estradiol during most days of an estrous cycle, thus little delay in selection of which follicle eventually ovulates occurs after luteal regression.

Effect of binding and pinealectomy on photoperiod and seasonal variations in secretion of prolactin in cattle.

The role of the eyes and pineal gland on photoperiod- and season-induced changes in secretion of prolactin were studied in male cattle. Increasing exposure to light from 8 to 16 hr each day increased basal and thyrotropin-releasing-hormone-induced secretion of prolactin 3.7- and 4.1-fold in three sham-pinealectomized steers. In contrast, basal and thyrotropin-releasing-hormone-induced increases in secretion of prolactin did not change in four blind bulls and were markedly suppressed in three pinealectomized steers when exposure to light was increased from 8 to 16 hr/day. There was no diurnal variation in secretion of prolactin regardless of photoperiod or surgical treatment. However, seasonal changes (averaged 46 ng/ml in June-Aug vs 7 ng/ml in Dec-Feb) in secretion of prolactin persisted in blind and pinealectomized steers previously shown to be nonresponsive to changing photoperiods. Ambient temperature and photoperiod account for most, but not all, of the seasonal variation in secretion of prolactin. We hypothesize there is an endogenous annual rhythm in the secretion of prolactin in cattle.

Ovarian development in control and decapitated pig fetuses.

Ovarian development was studied in control and decapitated pig fetuses. Fetuses were decapitated at 42 days postcoitum. At 51, 61, 74, 90 and 112 days postcoitum decapitated and control females were collected. Ovarian weight gradually increased during development in control animals. Deprivation of pituitary hormones as a result of fetal decapitation did not cause a decline in ovarian weight increase. Germ cell maturation in control and decapitated fetuses proceeded in a similar fashion, with secondary follicles being the most advanced stage. Enzyme histochemical activity was present in the primary interstitial gland cells and in granulosa cells and was similar in normal and decapitated fetuses. Both NADH diaphorase activity and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity increased from 51 to 74 days and remained relatively constant thereafter. Since fetal decapitation in the pig hardly influences ovarian development, pituitary dependency of the fetal ovary in the pig is unlikely.

Luteolysis in mares after endometrial biopsy.

The length of diestrus was not changed in 4 mares by taking endometrial biopsy specimens during estrus. In contrast, taking endometrial biopsy specimens on postovulation day 4 induced premature luteolysis and significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the length of diestrus. A concurrent decrease in serum progesterone occurred to verify the premature luteolysis in these mares. Bacterial cultures of endometrial swab samples from these mares were negative for growth at the first estrus before and after the last biopsy procedures, indicating that luteolysis was induced by the biopsy procedure and was not due to uterine infection. Seemingly, infusion of antibiotic solution after endometrial biopsy on postovulation day 4 prevented premature luteolysis.

Estrus, ovulation, and serum hormones in mares given prostaglandin F2 alpha, estradiol, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was injected in mares given prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) to induce luteolysis in an attempt to sunchronize ovulation. Pretreatment with estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) was used to determine whether or not estradiol would enhance the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) after treatment with GnRH. Twelve mares were used in a balanced Latin square crossover design. Mares were injected with PGF2 alpha, treatment A; PGF2 alpha mgnRH, treatment B; or PGF2 alpha me2-17 beta mgnRH, treatment C. The interval +/- SEM from PGF2 alpha injection to estrus was 3.3 +/- 0.2, 3.2 +/- 0.3, and 2.3 +/- 0.1 days for treatments A, B, and C, respectively. The mean interval in days from injection to first ovulation averaged 1 day less (P less than 0.10) for treatments B (6.7 +/- 0.6) and C (6.2 +/- 0.3) than for treatment A (7.6 +/- 0.7). The furation of estrus and the interval from ovulation to end of estrus were similar among the three treatment groups. Mares treated with GnRH (treatments B and C) had a significant (P less than 0.01) two- to threefold increase in LH concentrations when compared with controls. Pretreatment with estradiol-17 beta did not appear to enhance LH release after GnRH was given, and the time of ovulation was not significantly changed by GnRH treatment.

Prolonged interovulatory interval after oestradiol treatment in mares.

This study was designed to test if oestradiol treatment would prevent or delay luteolysis in mares. Mares (5/group) received 0, 0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 mg oestradiol-17 beta daily from the day of ovulation until the next ovulation or for a maximum of 32 days. This treatment did not prevent luteolysis which occurred 15.8, 16.8, 15.8 and 17.3 days after the previous ovulation for the mares treated with 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg oestradiol respectively. Although oestradiol treatment failed to alter oestrous behaviour after luteolysis, daily treatment with 10.0 mg oestradiol prevented follicular growth and inhibited ovulation.

Resistance of neonatal calves given colostrum diet to oral challenge with a septicemia-producing Escherichia coli.

Twenty Holstein-Friesian male calves were obtained within 4 hours after bith (colostrum deprived) and allotted to 1 of 4 groups, each given a different feeding: colostrum, milk replacer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and saline solution (0.85% NaCl). Each calf was fed 2 L of the respective diets every 12 hours. Rectal temperatures were recorded and blood samples were collected immediately before each feeding. At approximately 27 hours of age, all calves were inoculated orally with 1.5 X 10(10) viable organisms of a septicemia-producing Escherichia coli serotype O26: K60:NM. Within 8 hours, all calves had diarrhea. Coli-septicemia (E coli cultured from liver, spleen, and cardiac blood) was present in 1 of the 5 calves fed colostrum, in 5 or the 5 calves fed milk replacer, in 5 of the 5 calves fed PVP, and in 4 of the 5 calves fed saline solution. At necropsy of the calves (12 to 48 hours after oral inoculation), the same organism was isolated by cultural technique from small intestines of 19 of the 20 calves. Serum immunoglobulin G concentrations increased (P less than 0.01) in calves fed the colostrum diet in sharp contrast to the agammaglobulinemia occurring in calves fed the milk replacer, PVP, or saline solution. Results indicate that colostrum fed to the calf soon after birth provides protection from colisepticemia, but does not prevent the diarrhea of colibacillosis.