Persistent post-breeding endometritis: Effect of corticosteroid treatment on the number of protein bands from uterine endometrial fluid of susceptible mares

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the number of endometrial fluid protein bands (protein profile) of mares susceptible to persistent post-breeding endometritis (PPBE), infected or non-infected with bacteria Streptococcos zooepidemicus, treated with an steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with the ones from non-treated mares. This study was conducted from January 2008 to March of 2009. During estrus, pure endometrial fluid of 16 cyclic Warmblood mares was recovered by the use of vaginal tampons for specimen collection. Four groups were constituted: G1 - Control, G2 - treated with 20mg isoflupredone acetate, every 12h, for 3 days, G3 - experimental infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus and G4 - experimental infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus and treated with corticosteroid treatment (same as in G2). Samples were processed and submitted to two-dimensional electrophoresis technique according to O'Farrel (1977), modified by Rodnight et al. (1988). Electrophoresis gels were scanned and analyzed to determine the number of endometrial protein bands. Endometrial electrophoresis gels showed 33 protein bands in G1, 54 in G2, 51 in G3 and 72 in G4. Protein spots ranged from 15 to 105 kDa molecular weights and pH 4.3 to 10.0 isoelectric points. An increase in the number of protein bands was observed in the two corticosteroid treated groups (G2 and G4). Treatment with steroidal anti-inflammatory drug isoflupredone can alter the number of endometrial fluid protein profile of estrus mares susceptible to PPBE, by an increase in the number of protein bands.