Esteller-Vico A, Liu I K M, Vaughan B, Steffey E P, Brosnan R J
Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Theriogenology. 2015 Apr 1;83(6):988-94. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.11.032. Epub 2014 Nov 29.
In the uterus of the mare, data obtained using transrectal Doppler ultrasonography indicate that uterine blood flow (UBF) is dynamic and changes throughout the estrous cycle. Degenerative lesions in the uterus are associated with subfertility and infertility. Among these lesions, vascular elastosis has been reported in aged, multiparous, and infertile mares. Angiosis of the uterine vasculature could potentially compromise UBF. The objectives of this experiment are to determine levels of UBF and perfusion of reproductively healthy mares and compare them to levels of subfertile/infertile mares affected by uterine vascular elastosis. Twenty mares were classified on the basis of degree of vascular degeneration and stage of cycle. A fluorescent microsphere technique was used to measure reproductive organ perfusion, where microspheres were injected into the left ventricle of the heart and became trapped in capillary beds in proportion to blood flow and tissue perfusion. The reproductive tract was removed, sectioned, and the fluorescent intensity evaluated to measure blood flow and perfusion. Additionally, full-thickness samples of the uterine wall were examined postmortem to further assess the degree of vascular degeneration in all layers of uterine wall. The mean value of uterine perfusion for the control mares during estrus (n = 5) was higher (P < 0.01) than that during diestrus (n = 5); 17.6 and 11.9 mL/min/100g, respectively. For the subfertile/infertile mares, the mean value of tissue perfusion was not different (P > 0.05) during estrus (n = 5) and diestrus (n = 5); 5.9 and 7.2 mL/min/100g, respectively. Uterine perfusion in subfertile/infertile mares affected by elastosis was lower than that of control mares during both estrus (P < 0.01) and diestrus (P < 0.01). The differences in baseline levels of perfusion between the control and elastosis groups indicate that elastosis of the uterine vasculature is associated with decreased uterine perfusion during both phases of the estrous cycle. In the uterus, a compromise in UBF could have implications in endometrial glandular development, postbreeding endometritis, uterine clearance, development of the conceptus, and overall fertility.
在母马子宫中，经直肠多普勒超声检查获得的数据表明，子宫血流量（UBF）是动态变化的，且在整个发情周期中都会改变。子宫的退行性病变与生育力低下和不育有关。在这些病变中，已报道老年、经产和不育母马存在血管弹性组织变性。子宫血管系统的血管生成可能会损害子宫血流量。本实验的目的是确定生殖健康母马的子宫血流量水平和灌注情况，并将其与受子宫血管弹性组织变性影响的生育力低下/不育母马的水平进行比较。根据血管变性程度和周期阶段对20匹母马进行分类。采用荧光微球技术测量生殖器官灌注，将微球注入心脏左心室，微球会根据血流和组织灌注情况滞留在毛细血管床中。取出生殖道，切片，并评估荧光强度以测量血流量和灌注情况。此外，对子宫壁全层样本进行死后检查，以进一步评估子宫壁各层的血管变性程度。发情期对照组母马（n = 5）的子宫灌注平均值高于（P < 0.01）间情期（n = 5）；分别为17.6和11.9 mL/min/100g。对于生育力低下/不育母马，发情期（n = 5）和间情期（n = 5）的组织灌注平均值无差异（P > 0.05）；分别为5.9和7.2 mL/min/100g。受弹性组织变性影响的生育力低下/不育母马在发情期（P < 0.01）和间情期（P < 0.01）的子宫灌注均低于对照组母马。对照组和弹性组织变性组之间灌注基线水平的差异表明，子宫血管弹性组织变性与发情周期两个阶段的子宫灌注减少有关。在子宫中，子宫血流量受损可能会影响子宫内膜腺体发育、配种后子宫内膜炎、子宫清除、孕体发育以及整体生育力。
