SUMMARY
Undiluted uterine secretion was used to determine the concentration of total protein and the accumulated volume of uterine secretion after a bacterial inoculation in mares susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infection (cui). The uterus of 6 susceptible and 5 resistant mares was inoculated with 5 × 106 Streptococcus zooepidemicus on the third day of estrus. Using a tampon inserted in the uterus, secretions were sampled at 5, 12, 24, and 36 hours after inoculation, followed by intrauterine lavage with phosphate buffered saline solution. The concentration of protein was determined in the undiluted secretion as well as in the uterine washing and the total amount of accumulated uterine secretion was calculated. Protein concentrations in plasma were compared before and after absorption by the tampon.
Protein concentration of plasma before and after absorption by the tampon did not differ. Mares susceptible to cui accumulated significantly (P < 0.001) more fluid in the uterus than mares resistant to cui, and uterine washings from the resistant mares were significantly (P < 0.05) more dilute than those from the susceptible mares. Significant differences in protein concentrations between susceptible and resistant mares were not found. It was concluded from this study that the described method to sample undiluted uterine secretion was practical and reliable for the analysis of protein concentration. Various concentrations of uterine secretions in washings from susceptible and resistant mares emphasizes the importance in using undiluted uterine secretions or dilution markers in washings when intrauterine products are analyzed.
