Satué Katiuska, Fazio Esterina, Velasco-Martinez Gemma, Cravana Cristina, Fauci Deborah La, Medica Pietro
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, Tirant lo Blanc, 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Physiology Unit, University of Messina Polo Universitario Annunziata, Via Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Vet World. 2024 Oct;17(10):2370-2375. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.2370-2375. Epub 2024 Oct 27.
In females of various species and experimental animals, iron (Fe) status in follicular fluid (FF) is associated with local physiological reproductive events related to follicle development, steroidogenesis, and oocyte maturation. However, these mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to determine and compare the intrafollicular and plasma concentrations of Fe, ferritin (Ferr), and transferrin (TRF) in cycling mares.
Sixty ovaries were collected during the breeding season from 30 clinically normal mares raised for slaughterhouse meat production. Blood samples were collected before slaughter. Follicles were classified into three categories according to size: Small (20-30 mm; n = 20), medium (≥31-40 mm; n = 20), and large (≥41 mm; n = 20). The FF samples, after collection, were immediately taken to the laboratory for processing and were centrifuged, and the Fe and Ferr concentrations in the supernatant and plasma were determined by spectrophotometry.
Although intrafollicular Fe and Ferr were similar to plasma, TRF was significantly higher in FF than in systemic circulation (p < 0.05). Follicular development does not modify the status of Fe in the mare.
Based on this evidence, it is possible that the acquisition of this molecule possibly originated from a local source, whereas their diffusion through ultrafiltration does not play a relevant role. These results provide new scientific insights into the status of follicle Fe, suggesting its involvement in normal ovarian functions in mares.
在不同物种和实验动物的雌性个体中，卵泡液（FF）中的铁（Fe）状态与卵泡发育、类固醇生成和卵母细胞成熟等局部生理生殖事件相关。然而，这些机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在测定并比较发情周期母马卵泡内和血浆中铁、铁蛋白（Ferr）和转铁蛋白（TRF）的浓度。
在繁殖季节从30匹用于屠宰肉生产的临床正常母马身上采集60个卵巢。屠宰前采集血样。卵泡根据大小分为三类：小卵泡（20 - 30毫米；n = 20）、中卵泡（≥31 - 40毫米；n = 20）和大卵泡（≥41毫米；n = 20）。采集后的FF样本立即送往实验室进行处理，离心后，通过分光光度法测定上清液和血浆中的铁和铁蛋白浓度。
尽管卵泡内的铁和铁蛋白与血浆相似，但卵泡液中的转铁蛋白显著高于体循环中的转铁蛋白（p < 0.05）。卵泡发育不会改变母马体内铁的状态。
基于这些证据，这种分子的获取可能源于局部来源，而通过超滤的扩散并不起相关作用。这些结果为卵泡铁状态提供了新的科学见解，表明其参与母马的正常卵巢功能。
