Relationship between postpartum uterine involution and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinically healthy mares (Equus caballus)

M E Falomo; B Del Re; M Rossi; E Giaretta; L Da Dalt; G Gabai

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03691

Relationship between postpartum uterine involution and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinically healthy mares (Equus caballus)

Heliyon. 2020 Apr 2;6(4):e03691. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03691. eCollection 2020 Apr.

Authors

M E Falomo¹, B Del Re¹, M Rossi¹, E Giaretta², L Da Dalt², G Gabai²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy.
² Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy.

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that delayed/impaired uterine involution could be associated with oxinflammation, we studied the progression of the uterine involution in association with some biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinically healthy mares (N = 26) during early postpartum. The examination of the reproductive tract was performed on Days 7 and 21 after foaling. Uterine involution was assessed considering: a) the increase of the gravid uterine horn diameter (GUHD) compared with diameter recorded before pregnancy during the previous breeding season; b) the level of endometrial edema (EE); c) the degree of accumulation of intrauterine fluid (IUFA); d) the status of the cervix (CS). Inflammation and oxidative stress were studied by measuring serum amyloid A (SAA), cortisol, DHEA, AOPP, protein carbonyl groups, malondialdheyde (MDA) and thiols in plasma on Days 7 and 21. By Day 21 after parturition, a significant improvement (P < 0.01) was observed for GUHD and EE; while IUFA increased in six animals. Plasma SAA and DHEA concentrations were higher when the clinical parameters indicated a lower degree of uterine involution. On Day 7, the cortisol/DHEA ratio was lower in animals with higher degree of EE. Plasma AOPP and MDA concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals with the lower GUHD. On Day 21, plasma MDA concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals with the lower IUFA. Our data suggest that a mild condition of inflammation and oxidative stress occur in mares with delayed/impaired uterine involution.

Keywords: AOPP; Animal behavior; Animal breeding; Animal science; Malondialdheyde; Oxinflammation; SAA; Uterine ultrasonography; Veterinary medicine.