Endocrinological findings in an experimental model of ascending placentitis in the mare

摘要

Our inability to prevent premature parturition and the difficulties in saving premature foals create tremendous financial and emotional losses for breeders. The single most important cause of abortion, stillbirth and prematurity in the US is placentitis [1,2]. If we are to decrease the incidence of perinatal mortality in foals, we need to understand the pathophysiology and consequences of placentitis on fetal well being. Our hypothesis is that ascending placentitis disrupts the normal pattern of uterine contractile activity and endocrine profiles in the late gestational mare. Our objective was to develop a model of ascending placentitis to investigate endocrine, myoelectrical, immunological and clinical findings in order to establish rational treatment strategies. For this study, we hypothesized that plasma progestins and prostaglandin FM would rise prematurely and that estradiol 17#beta# would fall in the maternal circulation as a result of placental infection, resulting in premature parturition.