HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cross, D. T. Articles by Ginther, O. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cross, D. T. Articles by Ginther, O. J.

Uterine Contractions in Nonpregnant and Early Pregnant Mares and Jennies as Determined by Ultrasonography¹

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706

Abstract

Uterine contractions in 8 nonpregnant and 13 pregnant mares were studied using ultrasonography. A 1-min video tape recording was made of longitudinal real-time images of the uterine body. An overall uterine contractile activity score (0 = no or minimal activity to 4 = maximal activity) was assigned to each video tape segment. There was a day effect (P<.0l) and an interaction (P<.01) of reproductive status x day. Uterine activity scores were highest on d 14 to d 18 (d 0 = day of ovulation) for nonpregnant mares and on d 10 to d 14 for pregnant mares. Uterine activity scores on d 10, d 12, and d 14 were greater (P<.02) for pregnant mares (2.5 ± .3,3.1 ± .3, and 3.2 ± .1, respectively) than for nonpregnant mares (1.2 ± .3, 1.5 ± .3, and 2.6 ± .3). Uterine activity scores for six pregnant and five nonbred jennies were assigned daily from d 0 to d 24. There were main effects of reproductive status and day (P<.01) and an interaction of status x day (P<.01). Uterine activity scores for pregnant jennies were highest on d 13 and d 14 and then dechned. In the nonbred jennies, scores were highest on d 14 to d 20. The mean score on d 13 was greater (P=.05) in pregnant jennies (2.8 ± .2) than in nonbred jennies (1.9 ± .5). With the exception of d 18, uterine activity scores were greater (P<.05) on d 16 through d 24 in nonbred jennies (range of means, 1.6 to 3.1) than in pregnant jennies (range of means, . 1 to 1.6). In both species, maximum uterine contractile activity in nonpregnant animals was reached during the reported time of luteolysis; in pregnant animals, maximum activity occurred 4 d earher, during the reported time of maximum mobility of the embryonic vesicle.

¹ Supported by the Coll. of Agric. and Life Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison and NIH Grant 1 R01 HD1977101A1. The authors thank Eric Chi, Dept. of Statistics and Peter Crump, Dept. of Computing and Biometry.

² Dept. of Vet. Sci., 1655 Linden Dr.

³ To whom correspondence should be addressed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L.A. Silva, E.L. Gastal, M.A. Beg, and O.J. Ginther Changes in Vascular Perfusion of the Endometrium in Association with Changes in Location of the Embryonic Vesicle in Mares Biol Reprod, March 1, 2005; 72(3): 755 - 761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]