Abstract
The stable metabolite of prostaglandin F2α, 15 keto-13, 14-dihydroprostaglandin F2α (PGFM), was measured from peripheral blood samples collected at specified intervals postpartum from 7 normal dairy cows and 4 cows with apparent endometritis. Plasma PFGM levels were significantly (P<.05) elevated for the first 5 days postpartum in the cows with endometritis (ranging from 4.0 to 5.0 ng/ml) compared to the controls (approximately 1.0 ng/ml). Beyond 5 days postpartum, plasma PGFM levels were not significantly different and decreased to approximately 0.4 ng/ml by day 13 in both groups. Time to uterine involution was not different between groups (less than 30 days). Therefore, uterine infections in cows during the puerperium was associated with elevated circulating PGFM levels. These findings and the observation that PGF2α is not uterotonic in the puerperal cow do not suggest a therapeutic use of PGF2α in order to evacuate the uterus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bosu W.T.K., Liptrap R.M. & Leslie K.E. 1984. Peripartial changes in plasma progesterone and 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2α concentrations in holstein cows with or without retained foetal membranes. Animal Reproduction Science, 7, 497–510
Edqvist L.-E., Kindahl H. & Stabenfeldt G. 1978. Release of prostaglandin F2α during the bovine peripartal period. Prostaglandins, 16, 11–119
Eiler H., Hopkins F.M., Armstrong-Backus C.S. & Lyke W.A. 1984. Uterotonic effect of prostaglandin F2α and oxytocin on the postpartum cow. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 45, 1011–1014
Eley D.S., Thatcher W.W., Head H.H., Collier R.J., Wilcox C.J. & Call E.P. 1981. Periparturient and postpartum endocrine changes of conceptus and maternal units in jersey cows bred for mild yield. Journal of Dairy Science, 64, 312–302
Granstrom E. & Kindahl H. 1976. Radioimmunoassays for prostaglandin metabolities. In: B.Samuelsson & R.Paoletti (eds), Advances in prostaglandin and thromboxane research, (New York, Raven Press), 81–92
Kraeling R.R., Rampacek G.B. & Kiser T.E. 1981. Corpus luteum function after indomethacin treatment during the estrous cycle and following hysterectomy in the gilt. Biology of Reproduction, 25, 511–518
Lewis G.S., Thatcher W.W., Bliss E.L., Drost M. & Collier R.J. 1984. Effects of heat stress during pregnancy on postpartum reproductive changes in holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science, 58, 174–186
Lindell J.O., Kindahl H., Jansson L. & Edqvist L.-E. 1982. Post-partum release of prostaglandin F2α and uterine involution in the cow. Theriogenology, 17, 237–245
Madej A., Kindahl H., Woyno W., Edqvist L.-E., & StupnickiR. 1984. Blood levels of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydroprostaglandin F2α during the postpartum period in primiparous cows. Theriogenology, 21, 279–287
Manns J.G., Kuuhe N. & Bristol F. 1985. Prostaglandin concentrations in uterine fluid of cows with pyometra. Canadian Journal of Complex Medicine, 49, 436–438
Roberts S.J. 1979. Veterinary obstetrics and genital diseases, 2nd edition, (Edward Bros Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan), 477–483
Roberts J.S., Barcikowski B., Wilson L., Skarnes R.C. & McCracken J.A. 1975. Hormonal and related factors affecting the release of prostaglandin F2α from the uterus. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, 6, 1091–1097
Thatcher W.W., Guilbault L.A., Collier R.J., Lewis G.S., Drost M., Knickerbocker J., Foster D.B. & Wilcox C.J. 1982. The impact of antepartum physiology on postpartum performance in cows. In: H.Karg & E.Schallengerger (eds), Current topics in veterinary medicine and animal science, (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague), 3–25
Zar J.H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis, 2nd edition, (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliff, New Jersey), 266
Zurier R.B. 1982. Prostaglandins and inflammation. In: J.B. Lee (ed), Prostaglandins. (Elsevier North Holland, Inc., New York), 91–112
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thompson, F.N., Page, R.D., Cook, C.B. et al. Prostaglandin F2α metabolite levels in normal and uterine-infected postpartum cows. Vet Res Commun 11, 503–507 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396367
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396367