CONTENTS OF TRIGLYCERIDES AND CHOLESTEROL IN BOVINE PLACENTAL TISSUE AND IN SERUM AS WELL AS PLASMA-CONCENTRATION OF ESTROGENS IN COWS WITHAND WITHOUT RETAINED PLACENTAL FETAL MEMBRANES

Contents of triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) in placentomes a nd serum as well as plasma concentration of total free oestrogen were determined immediately after parturition in ten cows with normal relea se of the fetal membranes (NRFM) and in seven cows with placental rete ntion (RFM). The mean (+/- SD) content of TG was lower (p < 0.05) in t he maternal part of the placenta in RFM cows than in the NRFM animals (1.13 +/- 0.31 versus 3.13 +/- 2.22 mmol/kg wet tissue). Average (+/- SD) fetal and maternal placental tissue concentration of CHOL, mean (/- SD) fetal placental tissue concentration of TG and average (+/- SD) serum concentration of TG and CHOL did not differ between cows with a nd without RFM. Mean (+/- SD) plasma concentration of total oestrogen was lower in RFM than in NRFM cows (2.79 +/- 0.86 versus 4.90 +/- 1.89 ng/ml; p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the con centration of plasma oestrogen and the content of TG in the placenta ( r = 0.86; p < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that there mig ht be an interaction between placental TG and oestrogens which could b e important for the release of the placental membranes.